Chapter 29: The Search of the Island

At an enclosed small island, hidden within the thick ocean mist. The island known by many as the Mirage Island. The name should be explanatory already on why it was named so unoriginal that way. Naming sense never changes no matter in what universe.

So you might more or less figure, the main reason it was named that way was because of the mirage-like qualities. Randomly appearing whether at daylight or night. Looking like it wasn't too far or too close but no matter how hard people sailed toward it, they never got near enough before it vanishes.

"Wait a minute-so the whole island just vamoosh?!"

The local of the coast village, Fishy Town (Yes, it's literally named that way, just go with it.) nodded at Nick with serious depth in his eyes.

"Not the word I would use but technically, yes. The island disappears, and always showing up in random times with no one ever setting foot on it," The vendor confirmed.

"And it seemed your town has been raking profit from it," I noted, looking through the many merchandise his small store had. Fans, T-Shirts, key chains, mugs, and other trinkets with the words "Mirage Island: Experience the Mystery (if you're lucky)" with a mascot character of a turtle doing a thumbs up.

The vendor perked up at my words, and his dark brown eyes began to glint of something akin to predatory greed while rubbing his hand expectantly. I rolled my eyes at his predictable action as he started listing off the many items he had using an all too cheerful tone to get on our good side in a very forceful way while ignoring the term "Private space."

Erza was having none of that nonsense. Withdrawing her sword and began aiming it at the vendor's throat, much to his surprise and fright. Worst of all, she was in sync with Spade as he did the same, aiming his rapier to his chest so as annoyed as I was at the man, I felt sorry that he was subjected to the glare of those two.

"Enough," said Erza, "Tell us where we could get the nearest boat, any rambling from you and I will have to cut you down."

"And you're lucky we haven't cut you down right now for that god awful clothes you wore. Who wore kilt these days? And with that horrendous T-Shirt, you might want a better designer there. "

"Hey! Mind the kilt. I have you know, my family wore these for generations!"

"Oooookay, we're getting off topic here. First Erza, we have the boat problem covered so we don't have to worry about that. Second, since when were you a fashion police Spade?"

He shrugged, "I might be a former slave, doesn't mean I don't try to look good. You think this hair take care of itself?"

I rolled my eyes, "Too much information there buddy."

"Wait, you're going off to search for the island?" the vendor asked with spike of his pitch and his breath hitched.

"No, we're going off searching for Bigfoot and his furry friends in the lost island in the sky." Nick deadpanned. "Off course we're searching for it, why do you think we ask?"

"Don't! True I said people never find what they searched for, but those were the lucky ones. Worst case scenario, you would disappear to who knows where and never get back! You folks don't want to risk your lives for just any curiosity."

"Thanks for the warning," Spade said while he sheathed his sword back, "but that's not an option for me."

"Or any of us for that matter," Erza chimed. Reminding him that none of us we're backing off because of one warning and that we were sticking together. Spade met her eyes and looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding in thanks.

I clapped my hand and I got their attention, "Alright you lot, back to TORRI and I'll handle our transportation."

"You know...you're beginning to sound like some glorified driver Captain nyu," Hope snickered which made me glared at her.

"Bite me."

Hope looked confused by my words but shrugged, "Okay nyu," she jumped from Nick's hair and bite my head. Hard.

To my credit, my face didn't show how uncomfortable and in pain I was from the force of her strong her jaw, "Remind me to teach her the term "metaphor"" I grumbled.

We spotted the red phone box at the edge of the beach, the waves hitting the edge below but I'm not concern. A little water wouldn't hurt him. I then began staring off at the distant horizon of the misty sea, hoping I could get even a slight glimpse of this mysterious island. I told the rest to wait and entered my ship so I could find the kept vehicle I stored inside.

"I still can't get used to this sight."

I turned and frown at Erza, who stood at the control room. Arms on hips, and her eyes glazing over her surroundings, brimming with wonder and curiosity. Looking like she's analyzing some puzzle that was blocking her way. I still couldn't get the scene of showing her TORRI the first time and gasping like a fish, and even going so far as landing on her butt when TORRI was moving. Not anyone has the privilege to see such a sight.

"Where did you get your ship?"

"I thought I told you to wait outside."

"I don't answer to you Captain," she said with her stubborn tone.

"Fair enough, and to answer your question," I look away when the familiar garage like doors appeared and worked out to lift it up, "I didn't get TORRI, I made him."

She raised an eyebrow, "You?"

"Yes, me. Who else? By the way, how do you like him? He's a fine ship don't you think?"

"Him?"

"He, TORRI, my ship." I insisted, "he has enough sentient thought to be called a he."

Erza hummed but didn't say anything else while keeping her gaze to the control wall. Her hands didn't linger long as she studied the various button and levers there was. "Well I must admit, he is wonderful."

[I'm thankful for the compliment Lady Erza,] the swords-woman jerked in surprise and looked around for the source of voice and could see the shocked look she had as I kept my hands tinkering with the vehicle I had.

"Oh, and did I mention he talks?"

"No you did not." She glared at how I was amused by her reaction and I wasn't ashamed to show how I was blatantly amused by her. "So do you have something in mind of what might cause the disappearance and reappearance the so called Mirage Island?"

"A lot actually. Underwater Island that floats up from time to time, an island on a giant sea creature that moves around for the season, a real mirage from a real island, an illusion from a creature to invite curious people, what else….Oh! Floating island. Mind you if it was I can't explain how it's on land from time to time but the how can wait." I listed off my ideas from the top of my head as what cliche plot would offer.

"Is that really the first thing you had in mind?"

"I try not to, but couldn't think anything more ridiculous. Do you have other ideas?"

"No, but I certainly would have come up a more reasonable explanation that what you came up with."

I stared long and hard at her, thinking how she could even deny something that's less insane to the things she would witness in the future, "You are clearly not an S Rank Mage if you could still say things like that."

Her glare hardened and in other circumstances I would be scared, but I was too preoccupied at the moment to even notice her, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means Erza Scarlet, that in the world of magic and see what I see. Impossible is nothing but a muck word."

"Then this Mirage Island is either as you said in one of your theories."

"Maybe. There's a lot of things even I don't know Erza. I just happened to see and experience things more than the average people, but that doesn't mean I understand everything. And from what I could tell, this isn't like anything I've ever heard or seen before."

"...then why are you smiling?"

I paused from my tinkering and felt my face curiously. Exactly as she said, I was smiling, and I wasn't even surprised by why. "Because I don't know!"

Erza looked like she wanted to question me more but, I finally got the vehicle working and had whooped in joy before pushing the big fat red button on the side to open the back door. To the outside, it might look like the back wall of the phone booth was moving up. I grinned when I find the surprise look of the group from the other side before gearing up and shoot out with a spanking magic 4-wheeler or just the fancier name for a magic car.

Though it's not everyday one could design their very own car so I used a reference from my old home and build my very own Yellow Impala car. Well, I say built...but it was more imagining what I had in mind and had TORRI do the rest with the pieces I collected throughout my journey as his resource.

They all backed away when I surged forward with the speed of around 60 mph but I had to keep from laughing when they were showered with sand. Then, making a U Turn and went straight toward the ocean. I ignored the worry call of my name from behind and flicked a switch as My Baby touched the water and shifted into a motor boat in Transformer-like sequence that made my inner 10-year old cheer in delight.

I looked back and waved at my companions, "What are you standing around there for? Get on!"

With Hope's help, they all had their place on the boat, and had been expecting to meet the blinding sparkling eyes of Nick, looking up at me in glee and excitement. "That was AWESOME! How did you do that Aniki? Did you made him? Did it just change from a 4-wheeler to a boat? Because that was so coooool! The boat isn't like anything I've ever seen, and-"

"Focus Nick," I chided him but couldn't help the fond smile tug on my lips, "Like I said before, for whatever reason, TORRI couldn't pointed out an exact coordinate where Heart currently is. So from this point we'll have to search on our own and who knows how long that will take. Bare in mind we're going to have to peel our eyes open people."

"I don't think peeling our eyes open would help Captain, I don't think it's even possible to do that and it would just be disgusting."

"Again Hope. Metaphor."

I pumped my ethernano to gas the boat and we set off to the misty side of the ocean. I noticed both Nick's smile fell and Zeffik's body when it dawned on them of the ominous place we're going in. They even began inching toward one another and grabbed at each other for reassurance.

"You know..any chance we could go back and maybe have me wait with TORRI. Don't you think someone should guard him and make sure no one tries to steal him or anything?" Zeffik chattered on. I didn't need to look back at him to know the big guy was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and had to held back a laugh.

"No worry on that part Zeffik. TORRI is more than capable to protect himself."

"Oh...right…"

You would think after making an epic start we would quickly get a clue of the truth of Mirage Island and get the bottom of things. Nope. In reality, there was god awful long hours with nothing but the small blip of the map of where Heart was supposed to be.

We stayed on the boat for hours with nothing but each others company. Nick had lost his fear and was snoring his time away, Zeffik and Spade were playing card, which left all that those time for Erza questioning me to pass the time.

Yipeee….

"I assumed that you made this 4-Wheeler just as you made your Teleporting Ship."

"More like I designed it, TORRI did most of the work." I turned to her and examined the dubious expression she had, "You don't believe me?"

"It's not the strangest thing I have encountered, but most magic items with this much capability would take years of research and effort, and most importantly not something you could do alone."

"I'm a genius," I answered curtly. Knowing I sounded every bit of arrogant as I sound and make her glared disapprovingly at me.

Long silence stretched between us, neither of us knowing the proper talk to break the ice. I became no less than an awkward teen who stood beside one of his heroes and hopefully would not embarrass myself in front of her. While Erza must be looking at me with wariness. A teen with potential yet with unknown danger, shrouded in mystery, and hide his name in a title. It would be weirder if she wasn't.

"Who are you?" she reiterated her question.

"I already said who I am. I'm The Captain."

"No, that's not what I meant. I thought you were some kind of journalist but you're not. The way you carry yourself like a warrior, but you are definitely a made. Most puzzling is your box. He's unlike anything I've ever seen. I could understand if you were given or an heirloom, but for you to make him yourself. So I ask again, who exactly are you?"

"I'm just an ordinary traveler."

"Pardon for being rude, but I haven't known you for long but you are far from being ordinary."

I grinned, "Then you know me well enough."

"That doesn't matter. What I'm more concern of why you're even doing all this."

Even though it was the most basic driving rule to keep my eye on the road, or...sea in this case. I couldn't help turning to her with a confused frown, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You have no relation to her, not as a family or a friend from what I can tell. And if you hadn't plan to find the wrecked house as you said, then you had decided to pursue her whereabouts whether I was here or not. Meaning, you went through all your resources just to find a random missing person because you try to be a good Samaritan? Someone who hides his name and purpose, who has a ship unlike anything I've ever seen that you claim to be alive. I'm sorry but I find that hard to believe."

Her suspicious tone and direct words made me frown even more at her. Was Erza ever this suspicious? The memory of Fairy Tail has become hazy for me and I took notes of the major plots rather than character, but I thought for sure she would be more or less be impressed by a person who would use his every resources to help someone who are in need of help. I mean- even if Spade weren't related to her, my conscious and curiosity would have won out and tried to help her anyway.

"Is it so weird for someone to extend a hand when they are needed?"

Erza opened her mouth, but no a word came out and she was left pondering in her own thoughts. "It's easy for people to stab you in the back no matter how much you trust them." Without looking back at her, I felt her strong gaze piercing right at me, "And I don't you enough to hand my trust in your hand."

A loud sigh escaped me, "I did say you don't have to trust me right? Only that we need to work together."

"How well do you think we could do that when we don't even trust one another?"

"I trust you."

Had I made the effort to glance at her, I would witness her eyes going round as saucer. Her delayed response was enough to tell me she was surprised though. "Ho...how so?" She stuttered as she tried to keep her composure but couldn't help the shock tone laced in her words. Probably, not expecting how sincere I was with my trust on her. I thought back her question and thought it was good one. How to explain how I trust her without exposing other worldly memories shoved to my head.

"Let's assume at the moment that I trust anyone who bears the guild symbol of Fairy Tail."

Her hand reached out to her covered shoulder that has the mark, "How do you…"

"Erza Scarlet...you're starting to make a name of yourself throughout the country. Anyone who hears carefully through the grapevine should take note the wizards that's rising in power. And the reason you might be wondering, why I would trust to any Fairy Tail mage is because I know you. I know the creed and the believe of the mages there, and well...I guess in a way I owe them a debt. Or more precise, will anyway. And since I'll be requesting their helping the foreseeable future, I would rather much want to have good relationship with one of their mage."

It wasn't a straight answer she might have wanted, but nodded in acceptance anyway.

Time passed even longer and I kept my eyes on the map and scanner wired to the boat. I had equipped Baby with a scanner to track on any humanoid lifeforms. I could have used my own senses but it'd only tire me to concentrate my surrounding every damn second so I had Baby do it for me. However, feeling restless and with nothing to do, I closed my eyes and stretched out my senses surrounding me.

I was then shocked enough to stand abruptly that I tripped at my own leg and fell off the boat.

The others became alert and walked to the edge of the boat. Calling out my name, and I resurfaced before anyone has the thought to jump after me. With clear disbelief on my face that followed soon with a wide manic grin, I cried out "I found it!"

. . .

If one were to witness the true form of Mirage Island, they would see it as a small desolate island. A dull gray sky without a shred of blue to color the depressing sight, purple plants rather than green covered the island, and blue sparkling sand that would rivaled the ocean had the color not follow that of the sky.

However, that was the furthest difference made between that and a regular island. Because one glimpse of it and you'll take note of the floating state with shining pillars of lacrima jutting out from beneath the ground. A reminiscent of what the small floating islands in Edolas would look like but moving like waves, moving toward and further from the ocean. Yet, the place it resided was in no certain was Edolas or could even be called a proper place. Those who stumbled upon it would be overwhelmed by the sheer awe of a beautiful and magical sight of the place, and fear of the lost of their way home while they being lost in an unfamiliar place.

Yet other than the strange placement of the island, the place itself was habitable. Various fauna and flora thrived there without a problem. It would have been no problem for anyone to live their lives here if they decided to get stuck there. And despite the 347 people who disappeared over the centuries, you could try to look and you'll find no traces of anyone living permanently there, not a clue, not a bone, not a corpse.

As if someone, or something, had made them disappear.

"Lalalalala, I'm not listening~" The man sang with his ears covered, pushing away the story that was on the edge of becoming a horror. Gage might be a 5 foot tall man, his body thick of fat, muscle and armor beneath his robe. His red beard thick on his face, an eye patch covered one of his silver eyes, yet he sounded so childish and scared despite his scary exterior. His friend, Nell, rolled his eyes down at Gage and had wished he wasn't carrying the tray of food so he could slapped him from being a cowardly idiot. He shook his head, wondering how on earth someone like him could cope being in a Dark Guild.

"Don't be a sissy Gage, it's probably just a wild animals or something. And all those voyagers weren't mage so you can't expect them to survive in monster infested den."

"But Nell!"

"No buts! Now open the door for me so I could finally give our prisoner her food and get this over with," Nell began grumbling and scowling hard. His dirty blond hair that had been meticulously combed became bristled in respond, "How quaint that me, a member of one of the strongest dark guild, reduce to being nothing more than servant."

"You know our orders Nell," Gage said exasperatedly as if he had to remind him a hundred times already, "we've been specifically selected here to guard her and make sure she does what she was here for."

"And giving her food, cleaning her mess, and making sure she doesn't cause trouble. We're no better than dog-takers!"

"I heard that!"

They both stopped right up at the metal door when her shrill voice was heard from beyond it. Nell growled a new and after Gage fumbled open the door with his key, Nell didn't waste time before kicking the door open and glared at their prisoner.

"Well, well, well. Look who's woken up." Nell looked over the large cell. There was a bed on one corner, the mattress worn out and yellow colored, the blanket strewn on the edge. The prisoner, sitting on the bed, her chin rested on one knee as she glared just as hard at him back. Next to the bed was a sink and a toilet, a mirror hooked on the wall above it. Then covering on the other side of the cell and occupied most of the room was the workshop where Heart Kreuz worked on her skill as the famous blacksmith she had long but shed away when she started living in Fiore. Crates of components needed rest on one corner, one she was both familiar with and one of hearsays. There were tools set up for her such as hammer, anvil, and chisels. The forge was still hot from her working in the morning. At least, she thought was morning. Time doesn't seem to run the same here and the lack of sun just made it harder to keep track of it.

The woman herself was huddling on the corner of the bed. Her chin rested on her huddled knee, dark bags under her glaring eyes, her back rested on the wall, her long pale brown hair curtained some of her face and putting shadow on it.

"I see you've been working hard. Best that you used your hand other than using it to put pretty little clothes," Nell sneered. He dropped her trays of food, a loud clang hit the floor before he kicked it forward toward her. Not caring if her water or any bits of her food was spilled.

Gage rolled his eyes but watched uncaring at his partner's treatment of her.

At the start of her captivity, she would have been a spitfire. Complaining every second she could, making deliberate mistake to annoy her guards, many times she tried to pry open her jail door. She succeeded once, only to find out she was in a uninhabited island in the middle of nowhere. Crushing further the hope she had to ever escape. Despite being beaten, spatted at, and deprived of food whenever she was being difficult. Heart remained spirited and refused to back down until her spirit weaken by the only thing that could affect her.

Time.

Days...weeks...months had passed since she first set foot here.

The added fact that living in a secluded place like a hermit and barely showing up at work had made it harder for anyone to notice her disappearance before it's too late. Still, she kept a hold of hope because that's the only thing she has. She wasn't stupid. She couldn't mess with the requested product of her blacksmith if she didn't want them to resort to torture, or worse killing her. The only thing she could do was prolonged the inevitable and pray for any help that might come for her.

She finally thinks no one was going to come for her.

Now she's more irritated from the fact she has all these beautiful precious metal on her hand only to be given by the hand of a Dark Guild. It's been a long time since she last made any kind of weapons, but it was a first for anyone to ask (read: threaten) a custom made armor.

She blew the few long bangs away, and didn't move. She could work hard, cry, and rant in her cell, but she refused to do so in front of them, so she kept her place in the corner of her bed with disinterest frown. Knowing that it would tick Nell off and he would reached out to grabbed her and pushed her off to bed, he always has a short temper when being around her. She took pride how easy she could make him snap without doing anything. He threw her down to the floor where he kicked her tray, "How about you eat like the dog you are and eat it from there?"

Gage lost interest at his friend's personal taste of entertainment and looked over the progress of the guild's requested work. He had a feeling she was prolonging her work, but unlike Nell, Gage had experienced with prisoners doing unwilling request. It's best to let time resign them to their fate instead of fighting them off while they still have a will.

The armor from the looks of it was finished. There might be a few kinks and details to work on but he supposed it was enough to test run since she was coming today and they would be spared from her "hobbies" now that she could wear the armor on.

"Are you done yet Nell? Because remember we have a welcome committee to set up and we wouldn't want to upset Miss Taylor."

Nell stopped his verbal attacked and looked thoughtful for a second before nodded in answer, "You're right. I don't want to suffer any one of her so called "hobbies" we better make haste," he sent one last glare toward Heart, "And you better finished up that armor or else."

She rolled her eyes and turned away without an answer, but they all knew she would. Whether she liked it or not. Once the sound of the locked jail cell echoed, she sat on the floor in silent, her shoulder sagged and slowly she looked down at her "meal". A damp mush of rice, carrots, spinach, and chicken from what tongue could tell and a side of miso soup. She didn't have the appetite but she ignored her brain and forced herself to scoop up her meal and ate as much as she could. By the third bite, Heart couldn't stop the tears that had been straining to break through her eye and she cried anew.

She tried. She tried so hard to keep going, to survive, to keep hold of hope, but even she couldn't stop kidding herself that no one was coming for her.

After all…

….who would figured she was on an island in another dimension.