Hey again everyone! The Bobcat is bringing you guys another chapter today. A new character arc as well. It's time the mystery of what in the world happened to bring our favorite wizards to Westeros begins to reveal itself. Hope you guys enjoy!

A Clash of Fairies

Chapter 5: Mystogan

The sun shone brightly in this world. It was always beautiful here. It was part of the reason why it was so difficult for him to choose his responsibilities in Edolas over the tranquility of Earthland. He took a deep breath of the magic filled air and felt like there was new life being breathed into his lungs. It felt good to be back, albeit unexpectedly. He never intended to return. When he closed the anima, he meant for it to be sealed for good. But he decided to leave a single portal open in case Earthland ever needed him again. And his old friends just might if this bad feeling in his gut proved correct.

He had felt it all the way in his palace in Edolas. The ripping of space and time to create a portal to a new dimension caused shockwaves through all of magic. His senses were attuned to this ripping. He was very used to having to locate and seal off anima portals in Earthland. It was his main mission when he called this world home after all. But when he felt a portal open again, alarm bells went off because he didn't open it. No one in Edolas did. It felt like the anima had activated itself. Although it didn't when he investigated it. That is when the worry began, and he wouldn't be satisfied until he figured out what exactly was going on.

Mystogan took another refreshing breath then slipped his cowl and mask over his face. He still had to protect his identity since the Earthland version of him was a criminal and the last thing the King of Edolas needed was to be arrested on mistaken identity. Now, he needed information and he knew just where to get it. The man in blue turned on his heels and headed towards the peaceful city of Magnolia.

When Mystogan arrived in the small town he saw that not much had actually changed. The canals were still running with clear water and always chock full of riverboats. The paved streets had their usual vendors and travelers, and Kardia Cathedral still dominated the skies above the small houses and shops. He looked away from the Cathedral and saw the massive Fairy Tail symbol atop a stone building down the road and he immediately made his way to his old home.

…..

Makarov felt like he had aged several years since the time that many of his best guild members disappeared into the portal from Levy's book. His hair had grown thinner, his face was more gaunt, and he swore that his knees ached more than usual. The stresses of trying to keep this place running without his S class wizards and their companions was really taking it's toll on him. That, and the worry and fear that plagued the old man's heart. His children were taken from him, and he had no idea where or how. Makarov looked up from his mug of beer to see the guild's ace drinking beside him.

Gildarts Clive was an older man on the other side of 40 and had a nice amount of stubble on his chin and cheeks. His hair was starting to show signs of graying which the man adamantly denied and tried to hide and his eyes now held bags under them where once there was youthfulness that very few his age possessed. His light brown hair was slicked back and he wore a brown cape with several prosthetics on his body, including an artificial arm. Signs of battle that would never go away. The aged warrior looked out at the empty guild hall and sighed.

"Man, this sucks." muttered Gildarts as he sipped from his mug.

Makarov just nodded and chugged his mug instead. He was half tempted to shout for Mira to grab him another beer. Then he remembered that she had disappeared too.

"So many people just gone. And people just left once that happened too." observed Gildarts.

"I'm amazed the old place is still running." commented a drowsy Makarov. Wait a damn moment. Why was he so damn tired all of a sudden. Makarov sensed a familiar magic power approaching the guild hall.

He still wants to hide his face even though he doesn't have to anymore does he.

Mystogan quietly entered the guild hall and was stunned to see how empty the place was. What was once and lively and rowdy dining area was now a dusty and silent ghost of a room. Only Gildarts and Makarov were there and the two of them looked very tired.

Oh wait, my spell. Remembered Mystogan. He released the sleep spell and The Master and Gildarts instantly shook themselves awake.

"What are you doing here Mystogan?" asked a puzzled Makarov. He didn't expect to see him back here. From what Erza told him, Mystogan was the king of Edolas now and would most likely never return. Gildarts didn't know this however.

"Hey Misty, what's up?" smiled Gildarts.

Mystogan ignored the nickname and looked at the Master, "I felt an anima activate a few days ago in Edolas. It was activated here in Earthland. Do you know anything about it?"

That caught Makarov's interest. The anima had activated.

"Maybe that is what happened." muttered the short old man.

"Uh what's anima?" asked Gildarts as he scratched the back of his head.

"Long story and we don't have time to tell it now." replied the master, "Although the anima, I think, activated months ago. Not a few days ago."

Now Mystogan was truly puzzled. How come he felt the activation only a few days ago if it occurred months ago here in Earthland. The two world's time were parallels of each other. One day would pass in Earthland and a day would pass in Edolas. That is how it worked. So why the sudden change?

"Where are the others? Maybe they can help?" inquired Mystogan.

"That's just it Misty." replied Gildarts, "We don't know. They got sucked into some portal from a book Levy had. Poof," Gildarts snapped his fingers, "Gone like that."

Mystogan's eyes widened and he looked to the master, "Is this true?"

The master nodded, "Yes, we still have no idea what happened."

Mystogan pondered what he just heard. "May I see this book?"

"Sure." Gildarts reached behind the bar counter and pulled out a red and black book with ancient binding on it. Despite how old the book was it still looked to be in very good condition. Better to be careful though. Mystogan carefully took the book from Gildart's hands and studied the cover. The title was in a language he had never encountered before and from the looks of things the whole book was in that language too. It was complete gibberish to him.

"Levy was reading this?"

"Yeah she brought it back from the Magic Library a few months back. That girl had been trying to decipher it for days before the incident occurred." commented Makarov as he began to drink another beer.

"Incident?"

"Yes, the book began to glow blue and next thing I know a bunch of the other guild members are telling me that Erza, Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Laxus and his group, Gajeel. Pantherlily, Carla, Cana, Juvia, Mirajane, Elfman, Lissanna, Levy and Gray were sucked into a portal that opened in the middle of the room. Me and Gildarts have been trying to figure out what happened ever since."

"It's a little difficult without someone as smart as Levy to help us out though." said Gildarts then he looked back at Mystogan, "but with you here maybe we have a chance to figure this out."

"Maybe." replied the soft spoken wizard. He studied the book again.

"Any theories?" questioned Makarov.

"One. This could be Earthland's version of the Anima."

Makarov blinked, "What?"

"There are copies of everything in Earthland and Edolas. I am the edolas version of Jellal Fernandez. Erza has a double named Erza Knightwalker. There is an Edolas Magnolia, an Edolas Fairy Tail, even Edolas version of you. Though he died a while ago." stated Mystogan. He raied the book to eye level. "Why wouldn't there be an Earthland version of the anima then if the two universes are basically copies of each other."

Gildarts and Makarov stared at the masked wizard.

"Huh…" was all Gildarts would say. But Makarov understood.

"Can the portal be reopened like the anima?"

Mystogan looked over the book and began to flip through it's contents. He then noticed that a group of pages were charred and burned. The writing seared off of the page. Interesting.

"I don't think so." he said as he showed the other two the burned pages, "Looks like this book is a one time only deal." He looked at the cover and saw that it was part of a larger picture of sorts. The cover's illustration was incomplete. "However, there may be more than one book."

"That's great!" exclaimed Gildarts, "we find the other books, use them, then get the others back home!"

"It may not be that simple old man." Mystogan sighed, "If these books are a one time only deal. And if they are the Earthland version of the Anima. Then who knows what other dimensions the other books could lead to. And for that matter, how many books there actually are."

Gildarts face grew downcast. "Doesn't hurt to try though." he mumbled.

"Correct." replied Makarov. He looked at his returned S class wizard. "Mystogan, I want you and Gildarts to investigate these books. Find out what they are and who wrote them."

"Oh I can already tell you who wrote this one." said Mystogan.

"Who?" asked Gildarts and Makarov in unision.

Mystogan flipped to the inside cover and showed them the two signatures. One was a red M and the other was the symbol for the dark guild Tartaros.

"Zeref." growled Gildarts.

Mystogan nodded, "But he wasn't the only author." He pointed to the red M. "That red M could help us find the other books and hopefully figure out a way to get our friends home."

Gildarts grinned at his intelligent friend. A deep sense of foreboding filled Makarov. It was one thing to be messing with a book of Zeref. But in order for the black wizard to complete this spell book even he needed help. The fancy red 'M' stood out like a signal to Makarov. It sent chills down his spine. Whoever helped write this could be even worse than Zeref himself.

"Be careful you two. I don't like the looks of this." said Makarov as the two S class wizards began to leave to begin their new mission.

"Relax old man." laughed Gildarts, "We've been through worse."

The two left the building and Makarov sat alone and in silence. Where had he seen that signature before. It looked so familiar to him. Then a great fear took hold of his heart.

No, it can't be. Not her! Oh god please not Her!

Makarov rushed up the stairs to his office and tore books off the shelves. He leafed through pages at breakneck speeds then finally stopped at the picture of a woman. It was a black and white photograph of a woman with red hair and she wore a red dress. Beside her was Makarov's son Ivan and his old team from Fairy Tail. The red haired woman's eyes seemed to gaze into Makarov's very soul. He looked down at the signatures on the page and saw it, the red M. He gulped and slumped against his desk.

"Oh god. It is." Makarov began to sweat uncontrollably and he felt his heart begin to give. He shakily grabbed his pills on his desk and popped them in his mouth steadying out his heart rate. He looked at the photograph one last time. It was not possible. But there was the proof. The red M.

"Melisandre."

Boom! Bombshell! Melisandre's origins are never really explained in GOT so I figured I'd make one up to give some more spice to this story. And this just further adds to the mystery of the Red Witch's motivation in all of this. And why does Makarov fear her so much? We will find out eventually won't we. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please rate, review, and have a nice day!