Just a quick shout out to IDrinkLotsaEarlGrey for giving Benny his own action figure form (in a sense) in the Fairy Tail for Douches fanfic. Please go check out IDrinkLotsaEarlGrey's Fairy Tail guide and pre-order your very own BENNY-BOY avalable for a limited time only! Thanks again IDrinkLotsaEarlGrey for giving my OC an awesome tribute and now back to to the show!
Meet Benny Makaren: 20 years old and - well sort of a member of Fairy Tail again in a de facto way...Stumbling back into his old workplace after a long absense, he discovers a massive change to the overall makeup of the office to put it in those words. How will Benny get along with these new band of 'phony knockoffs' running around the place? Read on to the Thirty-sixth chapter and find out for yourself...
~My Fairy~
tTnToTi Arc Part XI: Prelude to the Trial
MEANWHILE:
Purehito's elite Mages assembled around the dining table of their guild craft. As Master of the notorious Dark Guild Grimoire Heart, Purehito had amassed his entire guild en route to Tenrou Island, the very island where another certain guild was performing a certain S-Class exam.
"How exactly is our guest supposed to meet us aboard Master Hades?" One of the Seven Kins of Purgatory inquired.
The veteran Mage poured himself a glass of red and examined its contents with a quick swirl. "Oh he'll have no problem I guarantee it."
Suddenly the Mages turned their attention to a ziplike seam which had literally tore through the air; expanding until it was long enough for a figure to climb through. Poking one armoured leg out from behind the dark portal, followed by his two arms then his final leg, Grimoire Heart's special guest had finally arrived.
"You might want to do something about that," The guest pointed a sharp thumbnail back at the torn piece of air. "those holes tend to leak a lot of bad shit out if left for a while."
"Ultear should be able to handle such trivial matters." Purehito explained, lifting his glass. "So how about a toast before battle?..."
/?/?/?/
"So let me get this straight." I find myself sitting crosslegged on the bar with a double-strength cappacino with extra froth made by a Mirajane (not sure which one yet, she seems close enough to the real deal) withmy head bowed down reflectively. "You guys are not in fact the real Mages that you look exactly like?"
"Well that's not entirely accurate," the imposter Lucy answered as the entire guild gathered around the bar. "We're just their Edolas counterparts."
"So you guys are actually like some sort of twin version of the Fairy Tail Mages."
"More like a parallel universe self." Gray explains after adding another coat around his bloated kit already.
"And in some sort of weird coincidence, the Mages you parallel dudes take after have gone off on some vacation without me?"
"Well it's more of an S-Class examination to be precise." The Layman added.
"And so the rest of you guys who stayed here had no idea that these ones who came back to fill the numbers were actually from another universe?"
"No we actually knew from the very beginning." Wakaba and Macao interject as they walk over.
"Yes, we missed Levy-chan so much that we were grateful enough to see her Edolas counterpart here instead." Jet and Droy sob down onto the rougher looking version of Levy who seems a little irritated at their clingy nature.
"Grr." Edo-Levy soothes their tears of anguish with a double uppercut to their chins.
"Then why did you just let these parallel imitations enter your guild?"
"Dunno, we got bored with the others gone and they looked like they needed a place to stay." Max Alors (wow that's your first line in the whole series mate well done!) adds, looking quite sandy as usual I guess.
"And I suppose nobody could have given me an earlier explanation so I didn't nearly have my brain turn into slushy?"
"Nope," Warren answers, holding his fingers to his forehead as usual I guess.
"Nope," Vjeeter also answers sharply whilst dancing off to the side as usual I guess.
"Nope," Nab shakes his head, standing by the notice board like a big piece of furniture as usual I guess.
"Nopee!" Laki contributes as well, sounding weird as usual I guess.
One thing I've noticed since the real jocks of Fairy Tail left: there's actually other people in this guild that actually exist like real people for real you know?
I think I should be feeling a little jealous now.
"Haha! Of course I knew they were from Edolas, I've been there afterall." Charles laughs a princess laugh as she hovers over. "Don't you remember being in Edolas Benny – oh that's right, you were stuck in that crystal with all the other dullards hohoho!"
The day I let Charles get the better of me in a barrage of insults is the day I have truly lost everything. Good thing I have a comeback right under my jacket sleeve. "Oh it's funny to find you still here Charles. So Wendy finally tried to do the decent thing and drop you off at the pound?"
Charles' self-pride remained strong as she lifted her nose and turned a cheek. "Hmph, I have full confidence in Wendy and that she's perfectly capable of looking after herself."
"Humph," I smirk back at the feisty flying feline before I inhale a huge gulp of air."Well although I'm really jerked off that those guys would ship themselves off to some resort island after what I had assumed would be a very emotional and traumatic period of grief over my voluntary disbandment, I am nonetheless slightly less crushed inside now that I can clearly see that Charles has also been excluded from the what I must believe is a very fun and thrilling holiday adventure experience that those more visible members of the guild must now be engaging in right as we speak at this very moment."
Everyone was silent and stared at me for a few seconds just so they could gauge that entire mass of words. Then Yoshi stepped forward, "but they're not on a holiday, they're participating in the S-Class exam."
Thanks to Yoshi's much needed smack of realism I nod and take a long slurp of my cappa deluxe crossing a leg onto the table. "Mmm. So those guys left because they're in fact trying to become S-Class wizards?" I convey my thoughts aloud just so every slightly confused person standing around me can listen to my voice a little longer. "Hang on I think I need a flashback!"
/?/?/?/
D.G (the dude who read out Makarov's will from Season 1):...But of course since Benny is yet to prove himself as an S-Class Wizard, I will require Erza, Mirajane and most particularly his Half-Nephew Laxus to perform advisory roles along the way..."
/?/?/?/
"I GET IT!" I bash my fists down on the oak table spilling my beverage. "If I can become an S-Class Mage, then I won't need that stupid no good half-nephew of mine running the place." I stand up on the table and shout to at the ceiling with a clenched fist (owch! Again with the claws...) "Damn! I must somehow find this Island and get to it so I can somehow become an S-Class as well and prove myself capable of running the whole show with my own two clawed hands MWAHAHAHA!"
But my quite audible and somewhat evil sounding laugh is disrupted by The Layman's deadpan. "But you really have no way of getting to the island."
"...And it takes a long time for us Exceeds to fly there anyway." Pantherlily adds, now making me feel somewhat saddened that the cool cat in the house was shafted by his Dicky handler.
"...And I hear that only one of the eight candidates will actually get promoted to S-Class." Yoshi adds some more harsh realism again.
"...And don't forget that you're a hopeless wonder who can't even break the skin of an opponent let alone seriously contest any of those who went." Charles nails the final nail of reality into the coffin of dreams that were shattered before they could even spring to life.
"And also, aren't you technically still not a member of Fairy Tail?" Warren adds some more analysis to the situation.
"Well hang on let me work out the first problem." I sit down cross legged in a meditative pose. "Hmmmmmm? Wait what was the first problem again?"
Now everyone – including the Edolas imitations, face vaulted at that point...
"More importantly perhaps I should ask," I turn towards the phantom main dudes of the guild. "So who or what exactly are you guys and how did you end up here?"
"Sorry about this mess-up but I'll explain everything." Edo-Lucy clears her throat a little and speaks with some sorrow feeling. "As you may already be aware of, there are two worlds which are parallel to one another in almost every way; we have come from one of those worlds known as Edolas down to Earthland."
"I see." I nod with interest about this fascinating concept. "Oh yeah that's right! You're the Evil-er twin of Erza right!" I point to the Trident wielder adjacent to Lucy, my observation boiling the magma blood which courses through her Titanianesque veins.
"I'll get to that shortly but please Benny let me finish." The more sensitive aspect of Tsundere-Lucy is starting to bec ome more apparent as she retells more of her story. "Our worlds are very similar in that we each have a counterpart of ourselves in both worlds unless one of those counterparts dies of course." Lucy adds – but come on 'dying' seriously that must only happen in their evil parallel universe but everyone knows how the cycle of life and re-life works on Earth.
"But despite our two worlds being parallel in almost every way there is one fundamental difference between both our worlds," To emphasise the point she's about to make Lucy lifts one finger in front of her crossed eyes. "Our world possess no Magic at all."
An audible gasp can be heard from some of the guild members who were basking in the crystal cocoon with me back then. "Gee if anything I'd've thought your creepy universe would have flying dragons and demons – wait don't we have them things down here too?" I confuse myself scratching my curly clumps of hair.
Erza suddenly raises her Trident to my throat. "Look if you distract us with your pointless jabbering one more time I'll make you piss blood out of your stomach!" Yikes! I'll give Lucy the stand for now then...
"Well it wasn't always like this. In fact we used to possess an abundance of Magic in our world, but ours was a finite resource which was rapidly diminishing until our former King tried to steal Lacrima from the bodies of Earthland citizens. But once he was overthrown and the Earthland citizens restored, then the remaining reserves of Magical energy finally disappeared leaving our world essentially a mortal's world.
"But for a while everyone was happy. We had a new Prince ruling the country and he helped rebuild the city and improve the lives of many citizens. We didn't need material things like magic to give us purpose or comfort anymore as long as we were unified and strong...
"Then one day, everything changed...
/?/?/?/
MEANWHILE:
"So those Fairy brats are playing their game already?" The guest took a sip of his wine before returning to his meal.
"Yes. We have already sent one of our Seven Kins of Purgatory down for an early visit. Once he has set things in place, we can begin our own banquet." The eye-patch wearing master of Grimoire Heart proclaimed as he slowly chewed his rare beef.
/?/?/?/
"We tried to resist his forces as much as we could, but they possessed something...inhuman about them and we just couldn't match up to his own strength." Lucy continues her tale as she brings it onto a darker path. "Many of us were slaughtered, executed or imprisoned. We don't even know the fate of our Prince who led the rebellion against him in the first place."
"It must have been you in my dream that night..." I sigh just under my breath but she doesn't hear it as she carries on her sorrowful tale.
"Fortunately there was one other person who could still use some magic. Erza managed to break just a few of us out of prison before we made a desperate flee to Earthland. Now we are separated from our friends and have no way of getting back home to rescue them."
Needless to say, Lucy's rather traumatic recount managed to bring the house down in a flood of tears. Between a few sobs, Lucy asked everyone in general, "Now *sniff* any *sniff* questions?"
Oh yes, It's been three long minutes since I've had anything to say. Now's my chance to-
"Question." Damn Cruz raised his hand first. "How were you even able to move across into another dimension in the first place?"
"That's a good question." Lucy responded. "Normally our two worlds are physically separated in both time and space by an intransigent material called Anima, but 'He' was somehow able to tear holes between the Anima, draining magical energy from this world and using it for his own personal gain."
Wow this version of Lucy sure knows a lot of stuff, I should ask her how she got so smart and-
"Question." Damn now Yoshi beat me this time. "How could Erza still use magic even after what you told us those events which happened in the Edolas Arc." Oh Yoshi please don't say it like that; tearing Anima sounds scary enough without tearing walls as well.
"I shall answer that question and there is a very good answer." Erza says as she taps her trident on the floor with a very stern expression. "That is because...I am Erza Knightwalker and that is why."
With black dot eyes and a blue vein popping on her forehead, Yoshi quietly sat back down after hearing her answer.
Great! "Can I ask somethi-"
"I would like to ask Edo-Lucy a question." Warren (bloody Warren!) steps in front of me. "Um, sorry I forgot what I was going to ask you now."
Dammit minor character! Now I swear I will make sure I ask her my question now-
"Yep over here!" GRAGH! Now Alzack rudely calls out from the back with his other weapon in tow. "So is it just a coincidence that the only Edolas counterparts that came here are the ones whose Earthland counterparts are on Tenrou Island?"
Geez I could have answered that for you idiot! Of course it's just a coincidence for plot sake. Now everyone shut up so I can...
"Max again. So like, are you guys really opposite in every way from the Earthland guys?"
"Laki wants to just say she really likes the way you cut your hair Edolas Lucy."
"Can your trident relight my pipe?"
"Can one of you recommend a job for me?"
"Do you think I'll ever become a great dancer?"
"Anyone of you Edolas folks seen my kid anywhere?"
"Could I get a portait of you guys before you return home?"
"I just wanna know why Edo-Levy-chan doesn't like us."
"Yeah I also want to know why Edo-Levy-chan doesn't like us...In a hurry."
"RABBLE-RABBLE-RABBLE-RABBLE"
"SHHHUUUUUT UUUUUP!"
So enraged that my claws have now stuck themselves in the drywall, striking just underneath Edo-Natsu's legs and just tearing through about eight layers of Edo-Grays clothing, I finally raise my voice to silence this mob of minors (in importance not age). "Dammit the first time you guys chirp up and say something and now you think you can just run the entire show?"
Warren frowned with his thick lips and bowed slightly as did the other minors. "We're sorry."
"Now, if someone could just help pull my nails out of the wall I can get round to asking the one question I've been waiting to patiently ask now that I know all about this Edolas concept." As Edo-Levy and Juvia test their strength and pry my talons out of the wall I retract my claws and pick some of the plaster out from underneath my fingernails before I jump off the table and speak to Edo-Lucy.
"So, what's my Edolas buddy like?"
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Just as we were getting warm and friendly with our parallel universe guests were suddenly shaken by a massive explosion coming from outside. Catching myself on the table, I quickly get back up and head outside. "What the clawing crap was that!-?"
When I reach the front door what awaits me is a true catastrophe. Rows of buildings scorched aflame; people running in a terrified panic; children screaming and the sounds of bone chilling slaughter. This was not how Mr. Mishima told me this would play out. I've woken up to a real nightmare now.
My jaw is too paralysed to react in any way as Mr. Fawkins comes screaming out of the forest of flames, he reaches a hand out towards me in his last throes before he arches and gasps – a crimson fountain sprays from his back as he collapses forward. His killers surface from the red hot shadows, all draped in white cloaks but their masked forms emitting nothing but pure darkness and evil.
And as I feel my heartbeat literally stopping at that moment of despair, I feel a hand coming from Edo-Lucy rest on my shoulder.
/?/?/?/
"So you want to know about my situation?" He lowered his empty glass, gripping it until it shattered broken glass in his hand. As the blood drained from his pale palm, he held up his hand and watched in amusement as the crimson wine now drained from his own flesh. Then he croaked out his answer for the Grimoire Heart's Master. "Our Magnolian massacre has already begun..."
~To be continued!...~
Just when Benny-boy thought losing his job; or being taken to the toilet assissted; or being shut down by a bunch of hypnotised Mages; or nearly getting clawed by a psycotic lion man; or free falling from a high speed lacrima van; or...
Well just when he thought he had been through all of the worst, something far more troubling comes up for Benny-boy and his new band of Parallel freaks (including those from who came from Edolas and the rest). He might not get to fight out an S-Class exam, but the real trial is about to begin for this clawed caper. Can Benny-boy and his rag-tag band of allies save Magnolia from destruction at the hands of this new threat!-?
Since we've reached the halfway point of the Second Season, the next chapter might serve as a sort of intermission piece. Or I could just do some pointless filler or something, we'll see. Anyway stay tuned for whatever the next chapter will be!...
By the way: I wonder if anyone could work out which minor Fairy Tail cast spoke which line in the dozen or so lines of pointless questions near the end (some are obvious if they actually said their name but some others might confuse you).