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Chosen Ones
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Interlude 2 – The Day They Died
Silence.
Uncomfortable silence.
In contrast to the festivities earlier, being Tatsumi's birthday and all, the Allstars were sitting in Tatsumi's room, late at night, as no one were able to sleep. In less than a week, their previous selves would be dead, killed in battle. Crocus would soon be attacked by a Rebel-group determined to destroy the royal family. The King had already been assassinated, and Hisui would soon be crowned Queen of Fiore, but not if the Rebels got their way. The Allstars knew they couldn't interfere with their own deaths, but what about everyone else? They had no information about what had happened after the battle, except that Hisui survived, and they had no idea how many had died.
"There has to be something we can do!" Hermione insisted. "Can't we at least make sure no one else dies?!"
"The fabric of time has a set pattern." Juvia said in a monotone voice. "Once woven, it cannot be changed. Even if one were to travel back in time, nothing can change it, as any action taken by the traveler will already be woven by the time the decision to travel is made."
She sounded as if she was reciting a book, though, more likely, she was reciting something Meredy had once told her.
"In other words." Juvia continued. "Anything we decide to do, has already happened."
Hermione started biting the nail on her thumb. The silence continued. They were all frustrated, and tense; feeling helpless. Tatsumi desperately started thinking back to the battle for any clues; anything she couldn't explain. She remembered that she spent most of the battle fighting alongside Gray, though they were joined by others from time to time, as they were all taking turns guarding Princess Hisui. She remembered being joined by Lucy, Laxus, Elfman, Erza, Juvia, Gildarts…
"Gildarts!" She exclaimed with wide eyes.
"What?" The others chorused.
"When Gray and I were joined by Gildarts, his body had been restored!" Tatsumi told them.
"Restored?" Draco asked confused.
"Gildarts lost his left arm and leg to Achnologia before the 'seven-year skip'." Tatsumi explained. "But when I saw him on the battle in Crocus, those limbs were completely restored. And, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm the only one with the power to do that."
The others realized what she was hinting at, and looked at each other.
"Think back!" Tatsumi told them. "Is there anything you remember that could've been us?"
"There is." Draco said suddenly. "Sherria showed up about an hour into the battle. Her magic had been restored, as if she never lost it (AN 1)."
"I must have gotten to her early, if so." Tatsumi said. "The amount of time it would take me to restore her; I must have gotten to her just after your guild left for Crocus."
She then turned to the others. "What about you guys?" She asked.
"Juvia remembers cloaked figures collecting the injured." Juvia said.
"Now that I think about." Hermione said in astonishment. "I've seen your Shun Shun Rikka healing Gajeel! We got separated, and I was injured by one of the rebels. I was saved by a cloaked figure, and when I woke up, I was in a strange room that I now realize was made by a mixture of my new Rune-script and Tatsu's kido!"
"So we did interfere." Draco concluded. "We saved our friends, but not ourselves."
"We need to plan this." Hermione said, taking out a notebook and a quill. "How long do you think you'll need to restore Sherria's magic?"
"At least four hours." Tatsumi estimated. "Maybe five."
Hermione noted that down. "So, while you're doing that, the rest of us will head to Crocus." She said. "We find a good place to build the 'Refuge', and maybe scower the city to keep an eye on the Rebels."
"Tatsu and I went back to the Chamber in Secrets to retrieve the basilisk-corpse." Draco said. "Since I killed it, I could sell it to the goblins, the meat is apparently a delicacy, and I decided to keep the hide so I could make armor out of it later."
"We could use that armor if we go into battle." Hermione said, unsurely. "But we won't be able to resize them later, and we're going through puberty again, which means growth-spurts."
"I can change my age, but that won't help the rest of you." Tatsumi said.
"There are aging potions we could use." Juvia said. "They only change physical age, not chronological age, so 'the Trace' won't be affected, but it's enough for what we need."
"The 'Trace' can't be monitored this far away from Britain, anyway." Tatsumi said. "And the ASS don't bother with that here because wizarding children are encouraged to use their magic from an early age, so it can be properly developed. Stunting a child's magical growth in any way is considered a criminal offense, that's why our Magical Education starts at ages 5 to 6."
"How long will it take to brew?" Hermione asked.
"Three days." Draco answered. "So we better get on it right away. We only have a week."
"We can get most of the ingredients in the Clinic." Tatsumi said.
Hermione wrote down everything, and they ended up spending the whole night planning. Tatsumi's family wasn't happy when they found out about their plan, but they realized they couldn't stop them. Tatsumi was very much Ichigo's daughter, and if this was Ichigo in her position, he would've bulldozed his way through anything, and anyone, standing in his way. Therefore, one week later, the Allstars leapt through Kisuke's World-Gate, and set foot in Earthland for the first time since their rebirth.
They had five hours to prepare, so while Tatsumi headed to Lamia Scale to find Sherria, the others headed straight to Crocus. Aged to early twenties, the Allstars didn't look much different, in fact they looked even more like their previous selves. Except for Tatsumi, of course. Even so, their new Basilisk-hide cloaks hid their identities, and the hide-armor they wore was like nothing they had been known to wear in their previous lives.
Tatsumi arrived at Lamia Scale just as the delegation was about to leave, and watched as Sherria stormed off because she wasn't allowed to go. Tatsumi followed her and found her cursing her own powerlessness.
"I can't just sit around and do nothing!" The girl yelled in frustration. "Hisui-sama… Wendy… everyone will all be in danger… I can't…"
"And if you could?" Tatsumi asked, startling the girl.
"Who… Who are you?!" She asked guarded.
"My name isn't important." Tatsumi said. "What's important is that, in a few hours' time, Crocus will become a battlefield. If there is any battle that needs healers more than anything else, it's this one; and Princess Hisui needs all the protection she can get."
"Well what can I do?!" Sherria growled. "I don't have any magic!"
Tatsumi tilted her head. "What is I said I could restore them for you?" She asked. "Would you take the offer?"
Sherria gaped, then composed herself. "That's impossible." She said shaking her head. "We've exhausted all possible types of treatment; nothing can bring it back."
Tatsumi tried not to frown, trying to think of a way to convince the girl to let her help. She spotted a life-sized cat statue nearby; its head and paw was broken off and there were large cracks in its body. Silently, Tatsumi used her 'Soten Kisshun', restoring the statue to its former glory in front of Sherria's eyes.
"My Shun Shun Rikka has a very complicated magic." Tatsumi explained. "It revolves around the concept of 'Rejection'."
"Rejection?" Sherria asked.
"Under this dome, I can alter an object's reality." Tatsumi explained. "Every event that happens to that object leaves a mark, and by removing a specific event, I can remove any mark left behind by it."
The statue looked brand new as the dome disappeared.
"Your magic was lost because you released your 'Third Origin'." Tatsumi continued. "By removing that event…"
Sherria caught on. "It'll be like it never took place…" She breathed. She then shook her head violently, trying to shake off the desperation to get her magic back. "In exchange for what?" She asked suspiciously.
Tatsumi faced her. "In exchange for using your magic to protect the future Queen of Fiore!" She spoke determinedly. "To use it to protect all of those who are important to you! That's why I'm giving you this offer."
Sherri stared at her in shock. She clenched her fists, trying to decide if this was real or not. In the end, she bit the bullet and looked at Tatsumi with newfound determination.
"Do it!"
o000o
The battle had already started when Tatsumi finally met up with Hermione. They hurried to get the 'Refuge' up and running before their first patients were brought in. Sherria had been instructed to find Wendy and Gildarts, and would hopefully be back soon. Once the room was stable, Hermione set off to join the others in retrieving the injured from the battlefield. Shortly after, Wendy's worried voice announced Sherria's return, and Tatsumi turned to the entrance to see Cana supporting her father as best she could; his prosthetic leg had been torn off, and Wendy and Sherria were working to stop the bleeding as they hurried inside.
"Lay him down over here, please!" Tatsumi ordered. She called on her Shun Shun Rikka and immediately started working.
"Will he be alright?" Wendy asked, she was terrified.
"He'll be fine!" Sherria quickly assured her. "If she can restore my magic, then restoring his limbs will be piece of cake!"
Just then, Hermione and Juvia arrived at the same time, bringing more patients before leaving quickly with the message that more were on their way.
"Sherria, Wendy." Tatsumi said. "Please tend to the others while I take care of Gildarts."
"Yes, ma'am!" Sherria said saluting, and pulled Wendy with her.
Cana had already stormed out; she was just as protective of her father, as he was of her, and you'd be damned to get in her way. Soon though, Tatsumi was forced to divide her attention between Gildarts and the arriving patients, most of which were Mundane soldiers and members of the Royal Guard. Each and every one were eager to get back on the battlefield, and were out the door the moment they were capable of fighting again. Gildarts was no different when he was released from the dome. The second he learned Cana was out fighting, he was out the door before he even realized he didn't have his prosthetics anymore. In fact, Tatsumi had to laugh as she remembered his reaction as Gray pointed it out to him.
Luckily, things had slowed down since the initial wave of patients, and Wendy and Sherria had already gone out to join the fighting. The few who were still present were unconscious and resting, and it gave Tatsumi time to really think about how different she was from 'Natsu'. She had Genryusai's composure and self-control, while 'Natsu' had had very little of both. Though there was a part of her that wanted so badly to run out there and fight, she knew that her place, right now, was here.
o000o
Hermione watched as her husband collapsed after a battle. He had been separated from 'Levy' about an hour earlier, and Hermione wasted no time bringing him back to the Refuge. Hermione then tracked down her past self, knowing 'she' would need help soon. She wasn't sure if she had been the one to save 'herself', but she figured that it was most likely the case, so she had to stay close. She watched as her past self was thrown through a stone-wall; that was her cue.
"Impedimenta!"
o000o
Levy woke up with a start. She was hyperventilating as she looked around and her eyes landed on her husband, who was lying unconscious inside an orange dome.
"Gajeel!"
She got up and hurried over, but froze as a voice demanded her to stop.
"Don't touch the dome!"
Levy turned to see a cloaked woman approaching slowly.
"Your husband is currently being healed." The woman said. "Please, don't disturb the process."
"I'm sorry." Levy said. "Um, who are you?"
"That's not important." The woman said. "You should go. Princess Hisui needs you."
"That's right!" Levy exclaimed; she had temporarily forgotten. "What's the time?"
"About 4.30."
"Gajeel is scheduled to guard the Princess." Levy said looking at her husband. "He won't make it now; I should take his place." She looked back at the cloaked woman. "Take care of him for me."
"You have my word." The woman said.
Levy gave her a last nod, and ran out the door.
o0o
Meanwhile, Draco was standing at the top of the bell-tower; a large mechanical device lay frozen behind him. Below, his past self was fighting alongside Gray to reach said bell-tower, where the Rebels had hidden a bomb that would've destroyed a large portion of town if not stopped. They were close to a hospital too, and the Rebels didn't seem to care that it was a Children's Hospital. This would also be his past-self's last battle before his shift.
The reason Draco was here, was because he remembered that his past-self had reached the top of the tower too late; he also remembered seeing a cloaked figure jumping off the tower, leaving the bomb frozen and unable to explode. Gray had been injured as well, so 'Lyon' had been forced to leave him at the bottom of the tower to reach the bomb, and when he came back down, Gray was missing.
Draco had taken Gray to the Refuge.
o000o
Juvia was setting up the second stage of their plan. Slowly but surely, she was setting up Repelling-charms all over the castle, and slowly but surely people were leaving; they wanted the castle to be empty except the five of them, when the time came. She had to work stealthily though, as the Guildmages were taking shifts watching over Princess Hisui, and she didn't want to be seen. She didn't have that much time, however, but she was determined to make sure no one else was hurt. Draco and Hermione arrived a bit late according to the schedule they had made, but that only made them work harder, more determined. Their past-selves had begun their shift already, and soon… it would all be over.
o000o
Tatsumi was restoring the long-lost arm of a general – much to the awe of the other soldiers present – when Gajeel woke up. Gray was still unconscious, but Gajeel only needed a good meal before he was ready to get back into action. Unfortunately, it was now time. So, as the General and his soldiers prepared to leave, Tatsumi opened the doors to watch what was going to happen next. Gajeel and the General both stepped closer, curious as to what she was looking at.
In the distance, Tatsumi could hear the firing of a canon, and, in the blink of an eye, an enormous blast hit the castle, and the world disappeared in a bright, white light. The screams around her were lost in the shockwave, and the hood of her cloak was flung off as her currently thigh-length hair was blown out of the cloak that had hidden it. Gajeel and the soldiers had run towards the castle as soon as the shockwave was over, and Tatsumi heard Gray groaning in pain behind her. Though he was still unconscious, he could feel the pain caused by the death of his soulmate, and Tatsumi did the first thing that came to mind. She kissed him, and the moment her lips were on his, she felt their bond flaring and re-stabilizing as Gray settled back down in his sleep.
Meanwhile, the other Allstars were watching the remains of the castle as people gathered around a crying Princess Hisui, who was protected inside a large glowing orb that soon shattered. The Allstars all remembered the moment they saw the blast heading straight for them; they had all reacted purely on instinct with one thought in mind. Protect Hisui. Juvia had provided the base for the orb, Levy provided the spell-base, Lyon covered the orb with a layer of dispelling magic that would hopefully add another layer of protection, while Natsu covered the orb with an impenetrable Curse for the same reason (AN 2). Then all four had poured every drop of magic that had into the orb, not caring that they were draining away their own life-force; they'd be dead soon anyway.
They had already known Hisui would survive, but seeing it for themselves filled the Allstars with a new sense of pride and relief. They had done their job, and they had done so successfully. From where they stood, the Allstars also noticed that the Rebels had surrendered in the belief that they had succeeded in killing off the Royal Family. They'd be in for a shock when they realized Hisui was still alive, and, due to the spells set up around the castle, no one else had died either.
Well, except those who were supposed to.
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Four days later, Hisui was crowned Queen of Fiore, and many were surprised when she decided to incorporate the funeral into the ceremony by holding her first speech as Queen in front of four caskets. In this speech she thanked them for her life, said 'goodbye', and gave a promise that their sacrifice would not be in vain.
"It wasn't." Was the collective thought shared by the Allstars as they stood on a hill watching the funeral.
Ages had long since returned to normal, and they were hidden under disillusion spells. Shortly after, Kisuke's World-gate opened behind them, and they turned to leave.
"Do you think they'll believe us when we return?" Hermione asked, watching her husband as Juvia and Draco walked through the gate.
Tatsumi put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Let's cross that bridge when we get there." She said.
Hermione nodded and the two walked through the gate. They still had a job to do back on Earth, and they were determined to finish it.
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Author's Notes:
1) Third Origin (Taken from the Wiki):
This spell grants the user the Magic Power that, in the future, they have the potential to obtain, however, the casting process by which the recipient can gain this power takes some time to cast. The immediate side-effect of this spell being cast is that the recipient physically ages some years; for instance, they appear as an adult should they have been a child at the time of the casting.
A Third Origin release can only be received once, as once the effect wears off, the user loses the ability to use Magic forever, something which occurs due to the permanent disappearance of Ethernano from the recipient's body.
2) Since there's no specific 'Curse-power' on Natsu's profile on the wiki (it just states that he has Curse-power, and that's it), I decided to make up an ability instead. I will explain this ability on a later date though.