"What's with the celebrating?" Macbeth asked. "Who's Gildarts anyway?"

"He's Fairy Tail's most powerful wizard," Alex explained. She sat down at the table, facing him. "He's been gone for three years on a hundred-year quest, so everyone's excited he's back."

"Why are there bells ringing all over town, though?" Sorano complained. "It's giving me a headache."

"It is alerting the townsfolk to move out of the way so they can perform the Gildart's Shift," Gray said, walking by. Seeing their confused looks, he continued. "It should be happening right about now. Why don't you all go look outside?"

Alex looked at them. "It may be easier to see if we go upstairs." She pointed up to the balcony. "Come on!" They walked up the stairs and out to the balcony to see the city splitting in half.

"Just how powerful is this guy?" Erik asked incredulously. "I find it hard to believe all of this is necessary."

"Gildarts uses Crash magic," Alex explained. "The city does this, so he doesn't accidentally bump into something and destroy it."

"Talk about careless," Jellal muttered.

Alex laughed and started walking inside. "We should go greet him. I think he'll be happy to meet some new faces."

The former Oracion Seis exchanged nervous looks and walked in behind her. They weren't as excited to meet the destructive mage as she was.

When they made it down the stairs, Gildarts was talking to Mira. "Miss, I was pretty sure there was a guild named Fairy Tail around here."

"This is it," Mira smiled. "Oh, and I'm Mirajane."

"Is this guy an idiot?" Sawyer asked quietly, leaning over Alex's shoulder. "He should remember what his guild looks like."

"At the very least, he should remember what his guildmates look like," Sorano muttered, arms crossed.

Alex shrugged and grinned sheepishly. "Well, a lot has happened to both Mira and the guildhall since he left. It makes sense he wouldn't recognize it."

"Mira?" Gildarts looked confused. "Oh! You've really changed! And wow, the guild is brand-new!"

Alex walked downstairs while Natsu challenged him to a fight. "I told you to fight me!" He shouted.

He ran up to Gildarts and was ready to punch him when he was caught, spun around a few times, and thrown into the ceiling. "Maybe another time," Gildarts said, smiling.

"You haven't changed a bit, Pops," Gray said, grinning.

"A man among men," Elfman agreed.

"There are faces I have never seen before..." Gildarts said, looking around. "Things sure have changed."

"Gildarts!" The master called from the bar. "How did the job go?" He asked.

Gildarts shrugged, then laughed loudly. "No good," He said, his hand behind his head. "It's impossible for me."

The guildhall was silent in shock. Then the members began whispering. "The great Gildarts failed a quest?"

"How did he fail a quest?" Lucy asked Alex, walking up. "He's so powerful."

Alex put her hand to her chin. "I don't remember what made him fail," She admitted. "But I do know it was bad. He's lucky he came back alive if I remember right."

Lucy hummed thoughtfully and turned back to Gildarts. "What in the world is this hundred-year quest if even Gildarts couldn't solve it?"

"You aren't ready for a hundred-year quest," Erza warned Lucy. "Don't even consider it."

"You don't have to worry about that," Lucy retorted, crossing her arms. "No way am I going to try something like that."

"Sorry," Gildarts said. "This'll be bad for our reputation."

"No," The master said. "I'm grateful you came back safe and sound." He grinned. "You're the first person I know that's come back from this quest alive."

Gildarts grinned. "I wanna get some rest, so I'm heading home." He walked towards the wall. "Man, I'm beat. Natsu! Come to my place later. I've brought souvenirs!" He laughed and walked through the wall, making a new door. Natsu cheered loudly and copied him.

Alex laughed and put an arm around Sorano. "I guess we'll have to talk to him tomorrow." She sighed. "Too bad, I was looking forward to meeting him."

"You've never met him before?" Jellal asked as they walked out of the guildhall. Alex shook her head. "He left shortly before I came to Fairy Tail."

"But you made it sound like you knew him so well." Richard wondered aloud.

Alex smiled and tapped her head. Sawyer huffed and crossed his arms. "It would be nice if your psychic visions could tell us something helpful. Like what was that hundred-year quest Gildarts went on? And what would happen if we decided to try it?"

Alex shook her head. "You are so not going on that hundred-year quest anytime soon. It cost that man an arm, a leg, and most of his internal organs." She stopped walking and stared hard at the group. "Don't even think of taking that job until two of you can do an S-Class job on your own."

Erik smirked and crossed his arms. "Don't worry, Fairy Girl. We're not in any hurry to go on some life-threatening mission." He stretched his arms back. "I'm beat. Let's call it a day." The others quickly agreed and went home.

A week later

"Wasn't the weather nice earlier?" Sorano asked, staring out the window.

Jellal looked outside curiously. "It certainly started raining quickly, didn't it?"

Alex yawned and leaned forward. "All this rain is making me sleepy. "Let's go for a walk." She grabbed an umbrella and walked outside, the others following.

Alex sighed as they walked over to the water behind the guild. "Don't you just love the rain?" She asked. "It's so relaxing."

"I'd love it even more if I were inside," Sorano muttered. They went to sit underneath a tree. "Why did you want to go outside, anyway?"

Alex shrugged. "It was something I used to do before I came here," She admitted. "My sister and I would spend hours sitting underneath a big tree by our house and watch the rain with our dog." She smiled sadly. "I miss it sometimes, so I like to come out and watch the rain." She looked at them apologetically. "You can go back inside if you want. I shouldn't have told you to come out here with me."

The six were silent for a moment before Sorano sat beside her. "When I was little, before I was kidnapped and taken to the Tower of Heaven, I used to play with my little sister all the time." She smiled. "I used to have to defend her against our parents because she was so clumsy and often got into trouble."

Alex smiled and patted Sorano on the shoulder. "Don't worry," She said. "We'll find her." She turned back to watch the rain. "You all should go back inside. I'll see you in a little bit." The group looked at her for a moment and started to walk away.

Erik turned to her. "You know, it's not a good idea to keep things hidden from the people you care about."

Alex smiled and nodded. "I know. Go ahead inside before you all catch a cold. I'll be there in a minute." Erik nodded and walked back to the guild with everyone else.

Alex sighed and looked out to the water. "It is a beautiful day." She looked up to see the clouds create a spiral, much like a tornado's. "That's odd." She stood up and walked closer to get a better look. A beam of light was forming. "What is going on?" Buildings were either disappearing or getting pulled into the swirling vortex. A look of recognition flashed across her face. "The Anima!" She started to run to where the guild was. "I better go check on Wendy."

She almost made it to where the guild used to be when Erik stopped her. "Hey, Fairy Girl! What happened?"

"You're alright!" Alex shouted, relieved. "Oh, right," She remembered. "Dragon Slayers weren't pulled into the Anima."

"What's the Anima?" Erik asked. They began walking to where Fairy Tail use to be. "What happened to everyone?"

"The Anima is a portal to another world," Alex explained. "It's what pulled me here from my home." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I guess the Anima just doesn't work on Slayer Magic, period." She looked at Erik. "We should find Mystogan. He's from that world, so he should be able to help us get there."

"Why would you want to go there?" Erik asked. "You know what happens. Doesn't everything turn out, okay?"

"True," Alex admitted. "I really shouldn't interfere since everything turns out alright. But I don't think I could sit here and do nothing while I wait for everything to be okay." She looked at Erik, her face determined. "I have to help any way I can."

Erik sighed. "Alright, we'll go and see what Mystogon can tell us." They walked until they could find Mystogan, who was talking to Lucy at the time.

Lucy turned to them, surprised. "Alex! Erik! You're both okay!"

Alex smiled and walked over to Lucy and Mystogan. "We're alright." She turned to Mystogan. "What can you tell us about Edolas?"

"Edolas?" Lucy asked, confused. "What's that?"

"Edolas is an alternate world to ours," Mystogan explained. "It's magic is limited, so it's been using a spell called Anima to collect magic from this world." He turned to Alex. "That was what pulled you up into this world if you remember." Alex nodded. "I'm afraid this Anima portal was too large for me to close in time, and it sucked up our guild." He looked at Lucy. "The Anima sucked up the magic in Fairy Tail and turned it into a lacrima for Edolas to use. Only Dragon Slayer magic can destroy it, which is why you weren't taken with it," He explained to Erik." He gave them each a small pink pill. "These are X-balls. You'll need them to be able to use your magic in that world." They all took the pills. "Fairy Tail is counting on you. Find Gajeel. He's already looking for the Fairy Tail lacrima." He made a portal using his staff and sent them up to Edolas. "Be careful, and bring our friends home."

When they made it to Edolas, Erik looked around. "This place is so weird," He said. "Look at all these floating islands."

Lucy walked over to the edge of the island they were standing on. "I don't even know where to start looking." She turned to Alex. "You said once this world was part of a show. "Where should we begin looking?"

"I have no clue," Alex admitted shrugging. She sat down on the edge of the island. "This started with Natsu and Wendy. I have no idea where you began searching, Lucy."

"In any case, we're not going anywhere without wings," Erik said. "What do you suggest we do?"

Alex shrugged. "I could probably fly us, but I don't know where to begin."

Lucy smiled, determined. "Let's fly to a town. Hopefully, they can tell us where the lacima is."

Alex nodded and turned into her Demon form. "Hopefully, we can find Gajeel too. She picked Lucy up, and Erik climbed on her back. "I hate to think what kind of trouble he's getting into."

The three of them took off flying. "Where should we start looking?" Lucy wondered. "They could be anywhere."

"I bet they're at the capital of this world," Erik said, looking around. "We should stop in a town and get directions."

"This place is beautiful!" Lucy smiled. "We should come here for a vacation sometime."

Alex smiled. "Enjoy it while you can, Lucy." She looked to one of the floating rivers. "This is a one time trip, I'm afraid."

"Really?" Lucy asked, disappointed. "But it's so pretty." She sighed. "That's too bad."

"We don't have time for sightseeing," Erik said. He pointed at a town. "Let's go down here and see if someone can point us to the capital."

Alex nodded and flew them down closer to the town. Lucy and Erik got down, and they started walking towards the town. Alex rolled her shoulders back. "We have got to find another way to travel," She said. "Carrying two people around is hard."

"Are you forgetting something?" Erik asked Alex. She looked at him, confused. "You're still in Demon form. I don't think introducing yourself as a Demon to these people is going to make them want to help us."

Alex looked down at herself, confused. "What are you talking about?" She asked. "My Demon form is amazing." She smiled.

"Amazing or not," Erik deadpanned. "People are going to run away because they think you plan on hurting them. They won't want to help us."

"I don't look dangerous," Alex protested. "I couldn't even hurt a fly."

"Natsu said you almost killed him and Erza last time you used this form," Lucy pointed out.

"They're not flies, Lucy," Alex said, crossing her arms. "That's different." At Lucy's pointed look, she sighed. "Fine, have it your way." She went back to her human form. "You two are no fun."

They walked into town in hopes of looking for answers. "Let's split up," Lucy suggested. "Hopefully, we can get some answers."

Alex shook her head. "Splitting up is one of the worst things we could do. Especially since we're so far from home."

Erik nodded. "Let's stick together. We'll find answers soon enough." Lucy sighed. "You're probably right. I'm just worried about our friends."

"We'll find them, Lucy," Alex put her hand on Lucy's shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry."

Lucy smiled and was about to answer when Erik tilted his head. "Soldiers incoming. And their thoughts aren't good."

"We found you, Fairy Tail!" One of the guards shouted. Two of them ran up and grabbed Lucy, while three grabbed Alex and Erik.

"Hey!" Lucy shouted. "Let me go!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Alex demanded.

"Come with us! You're Lucy, right?" One of them asked.

"Yes, I'm Lucy," Lucy said. "But what's going on here?" One of them pulled on her arm. "Hey, that hurt!" She pulled out a key. "Open, Gate of the Scorpion. Scorpio!" She turned the key, and Scorpio appeared.

Alex grinned. "So we're showing magic? Awesome." She turned into her Demon form and yanked her arms away from the guards. She flew into the sky while Erik pulled his arm away and quickly got out of the way of the sandstorm Scorpio was making.

Scorpio grinned. "I'm going on a date with Aquarius now." And he went back into the Spirit world.

Alex grinned and floated back down. "You didn't have to go in your demon form, you know," Erik deadpanned.

Alex laughed. "I know." She crossed her arms. "This place is dangerous, though. I should probably keep the demon form for now." Erik sighed but didn't argue.

Lucy turned around and grinned. "Natsu! Wendy! You're alright!" She ran over to them and a girl that almost looked like her. "I missed you guys!" She looked up to see the girl behind Natsu. "Me?!"

Alex walked over with Erik behind her. "Let's find a place to hide out and compare notes. We have a lot of catching up to do."


Hey guys. So a lot happened in this chapter. I'm so excited to be on the Edolas arc. So I was able to get this chapter to you sooner. Even though I have no idea how long Lucy was in Edolas before she joined up with the others and I have no real idea what she did before finding them. I hope you like this chapter and what I write. Thank you so much for reading, following, and favoriting my story. It always puts a smile on my face. See you all next time!