Back with the next chapter!
"Speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
In Domus Flau
Fairy Tail exited the arena, each of its members excitedly talking about the games along with various other topics.
Lucy chatted with Levy before her eyes spotted Yukino. "Yukino?" Lucy said in surprise as she sees the white haired girl standing before Fairy Tail with her luggage bag at her side.
"Hello." Yukino greeted as she bowed.
"ara, is it not the Celestial Mage of Sabertooth?" Ikaruga said with a smile
"Yukino-san!" Rose exclaimed with a wide smile as she and Mary hugs the girl by her leg
"Hello, Rose, Mary" Yukino greeted the two
"Why are you here?" Erza asked.
"I missed my train home, so I decided to come watch you all participate in the games. Although, it seems I arrived a bit too late." Yukino explained a bit disappointed in herself. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Lucy reassured. "You don't have to apologize."
"Yeah, you can come party with us." Gray offered.
"Party?" Yukino repeated, her eyes widening some.
"Yeah." Natsu answered with a nod. "We're all going to celebrate at the bar next to our inn. You should come too. Unless you have something better to do."
"Natsu don't be rude." Lucy whispered.
"I'm not sure that…" Yukino began nervously.
"You don't mind do ya, gramps?" Natsu asked Makarov while cutting Yukino off.
"I see no problem with it." The Master answered.
"See? It's alright, so come on." Natsu smiled.
Yukino thought a bit to herself before smiling softly. "Ok, I'll join you. Thank you." She bowed.
"You don't have to be so formal about it" Natsu said as he watched Yukino raise from her bow.
"It's etiquette, Natsu." Lisanna explained.
"Yeah. You should try it sometime." Gray commented.
"You're one to talk, striperella." Cana laughed.
"I promise you'll have fun." Lucy said to the still nervous Yukino. "Just be careful of flying bodies."
"O-ok?" Yukino nodded, understandably confused by Lucy's warning.
As Yukino and Fairy Tail made their way to the bar, Sabertooth was heading back to their own inn in the opposite direction.
Lector watched their opponents exchange before he tugged on Sting's pant leg. "Hey Sting, wasn't that Yukino walking away with Fairy Tail just now?" he asked.
"So what if it was? She's not in Sabertooth anymore." Sting sneered as he continued walking with his team. "If she wants to hang out with losers, then let her. Doesn't hurt us."
"I guess you're right." Lector said.
Rogue just watches on how Yukino became good friends with Fairy Tail as this brought a little smile to him
""good for you, Yukino"" he then catches up with his comrades while turning back to his emotionless face
With Jellal
Doranbolt and Jellal continued their standoff in the middle of the Domus Flau arena foyer, neither man giving an inch to the other.
""The one responsible for the magic presence we've been sensing is right in front of me."" Jellal thought. He looked down at the determined Doranbolt. ""But this person won't let me pass.""
"Talk!" Doranbolt demanded. "Just who are you?"
"What is he doing?" Ultear murmured to herself. She and Meredy tentatively watched Jellal from the her crystal ball. It was safe to say that neither woman liked what they were seeing.
"That idiot. I told him not to go back to the stadium. The last thing we need is for the council to be aware of our presence here."
"What are we going to do, Ultear?" Meredy fretted.
"I don't know, Meredy." Ultear grimaced. "For now we have to wait and see how Jellal handles the situation before we act."
""Maybe if I knock him out I can…no, I can't. Right now I'm representing Fairy Tail as Mystogan. I can't attack council members at will. It would only cause more trouble for them, but I have to find a way out of this situation."" Jellal thought in a frantic.
"Doranbolt?!" Lahar called, a squad of rune knights at his back, as he walked towards the pair. "What's going on here?"
""Dammit"" Jellal cursed internally upon noticing Doranbolt's comrade. Lahar.
"Another one?" Ultear said with widened eyes.
"We can't just leave him," Meredy said. "We have to do something. Ultear?" as the Time Mage didn't know how to answer
"I know that you aren't Mystogan." Doranbolt said to Jellal, completely ignoring Lahar. "I'll ask you one last time. Who are you?"
Lahar watched in both confusion and trepidation at the confrontation happening in front of him.
""What is Doranbolt going on about?""
Jellal looked at Doranbolt one last time before attempting to walk past. "I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry."
"Hold it." Doranbolt ordered, grabbing the disguised wizard's shoulder. "We're not done talking."
Jellal felt a tingle of fear go up his spine.
"Doranbolt, what is the meaning of this?" Lahar asked walking towards him.
"Mystogan isn't on Earthland. There's no way you could be him." Doranbolt said to Jellal.
"I am Mystogan." Jellal declared, his voice almost shaking with the fear that he would be exposed.
Having head enough Doranbolt quickly shuffled his hand to Jellal's head, grabbing his hood.
"Wait!" Jellal exclaimed.
"Enough lies! Who are you?!" Doranbolt interrogated as he removed Jellal's hood.
Time seemed to slow down as Jellal's face became visible to the gathered Rune Knights.
"Ultear!" Meredy shouted in shock.
"Dammit!" Ultear cursed. She quickly stood up. "That fool. Come on, Meredy. We're going into the city."
"Right." Meredy nodded, equally determined as she stood up next to Ultear.
Doranbolt and Lahar's eyes widened in absolute shock at the sight.
"Jellal?!" Lahar shouted.
"I knew it." Doranbolt said.
Lahar raised his hand into the air, his men getting into position. "On my command…!"
"Ah, there you are, Mystogan!" a voice called to the outed Jellal.
The three men turned to see Yajima walking towards them, a smile on his face. All of them were at a loss for words.
"Mr. Yajima?" Doranbolt said in surprise.
"Now you see why Mystogan hides his face, Lahar." Yajima said.
"I don't understand." Lahar said as he looked at Yajima with a confused and anxious stare.
"You are familiar with a world called Edolas, correct?" Yajima asked.
"Yes…" Lahar nodded. "Some of my men have mentioned such a place before."
"In Edolas there are counterparts of all of us. Think of them as mirror images or to specific our opposites. Mystogan here just happens to have had the bad luck of being Jellal's counterpart." Yajima explained.
"So, you came from Edolas?" Lahar asked Jellal.
"…Yes." Jellal nodded, going along with Yajima's play.
"You don't expect us to believe, that do you?!" Doranbolt protested.
"Stand down, Doranbolt." Lahar said.
"But…" Doranbolt began.
"I apologize for the misunderstanding." Lahar bowed.
Yajima waved him off. "It's quite alright. You were unaware."
"Sorry for the confusion." Jellal apologized. He picked up his hat from the floor and placed it back on his head, but before he could completely conceal his face again, someone else had taken notice of his outed identity.
With Kagura
Kagura Mikazuchi, making her way to the arena's exit along with the rest of Mermaid Heel, glanced towards the commotion in the middle of the foyer for a split second. That second was all she needed.
"Jellal…" she muttered with widened eyes. Her heart raced, anger and hate bubbling to the surface as her adrenaline spiked. She then violently doubled over, covering her mouth before she retched.
"Kagura, what's wrong?!" Millianna asked. She along with the rest of Mermaid Heel quickly circled around their leader with worry and concern.
"Are you ok?" Risley asked.
"Kagura?!" Beth called.
Kagura fell to her knees, her entire body shuddering rage as she tightly gripped her sword's scabbard.
"Come on, Kagura! Keep it together!" Arana said as she knelt down next to the swordswoman.
"We need some help over here!" Risley shouted into the crowd.
"Please help us!" Beth yelled.
"Kagura is…!" Millianna began before she too looked over to Jellal. She quickly realized he was the reason for Kagura's current state. "Jellal!" Millianna snarled through clenched teeth. She began to move towards him, but Kagura grabbed her arm; halting her advance. Millianna turned around, surprise in her eyes as she looked at the downed swordswoman.
"It's ok. I am fine." Kagura said as her body slowly relaxed. "There is no need to get excitable."
"But he's right there!" Millianna shouted as she pointed at Jellal. "We can…"
"No." Kagura said as she let go of Millianna's arm and stood up. "I said I am fine. I apologize for making you all worry."
"Are you sure?" Beth asked as she and Arana helped Kagura to her feet.
"Don't push yourself." Risley warned.
"I really am ok." Kagura said.
"But Kagura…" Millianna began.
"I had no idea Fairy Tail was giving him safe harbor." Kagura said. Though her body had relaxed, her eyes still held her anger.
"Fairy Tail?" Millianna repeated with widened eyes. "But why would they do that? Why would, Erzy…?"
"Let's go." Kagura said walking forward, the rest of her team reluctantly following behind. She clenched her sword's scabbard tightly, her muscles once again tensing. His time will come.
With Jellal
"Jellal has been a demon for me as well." Jellal said to Lahar as he fixed his hood. He had hoped Yajima's deception had proved effective. "If I come across him I will be sure to notify you."
"I see. Thank you." Lahar said, his demeanor still very wary of the supposed man from Edolas.
"If you'll excuse me." Jellal said as he walked in the opposite direction.
""Thank you, Yajima."" Jellal said to Yajima, the elderly man using his telepathy magic so the two could communicate. ""I am in your debt.""
""This will be the only time I bail you out."" Yajima replied.
""I suggest you leave quickly before you cause Macky anymore problems.""
""I will."" Jellal said.
""Once the games are over. I will be gone.""
"Lahar." Doranbolt said as he watched Jellal walk away. "Why did you…?"
"That was the real one." Lahar said to Doranbolt, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I only let him leave out of respect for Mr. Yajima's reputation. But rest assured, Doranbolt, he won't escape."
Jellal exited the arena, stopping at the top of the stairs that led down to the city streets.
""The presence I felt is gone. It felt like Zeref's magic, but it wasn't him. Who was that person?""
Seeing no use in dwelling on it further, Jellal walked down the stairs and into Crocus. He soon made his way downtown, passing by a very conspicuous alleyway.
"Jellal." a familiar voice called to him.
He looked into the alley, a cold sweat dripping down his face when he saw Ultear and Meredy standing inside, their hoods pulled over their heads.
"U-Ultear." Jellal stammered.
"We're leaving." Ultear ordered as she and Meredy turned around, walking the opposite direction of him. Her tone was less than relieved at his successful evasion from the authorities.
"Understood." Jellal sulked, following the two women back to their hideout in the mountains. He knew that severe punishment was in his immediate future.
With Fairy Tail
Everyone was partying in their inn as Yukino who was their guest, can't believe how loud and crazy the people of Fairy Tail were
"are you enjoying yourself?" Lucy asked Yukino while giving her a cup filled with Orange juice
"I still feel a bit out of place here" Yukino replied as she gratefully takes the drink
"don't worry, everyone here is always like this" Lucy said with a smile as the two started chatting
We now turn our attention to Natsu who was playing around with his kids while Erza was chatting with Mira
""hey"" END called out to Natsu as he turns to look at the astral figure of him
""we need to talk"" END said as he pointed outside
""now""
Natsu nodded before he grabs Milo and let Rose and Mary play with the old cat
He then excuses himself out by saying he needs some fresh air as he entered an alleyway
"so?" Natsu said as END crosses his arms
""the kingdom is hiding this"" END said as an image of a giant gate appeared in Natsu's head
"what is it?" Natsu asked as he felt as if he has seen the gate somewhere in the past
""Eclipse, the Gate of Time"" END replied to him
"and how did you know this?" Natsu asked
""been looking around in my spare time"" END replied
"I thought that you are stuck to me?"
""hahaha! You think just because we share the same body, I can't move further away from you?"" END laughed at Natsu
END then stops laughing as his face went serious
""listen, keep an eye on the kingdom's guards. I suspect that they are the ones targeting that blonde girl and that white-haired girl"" END told to Natsu with a serious tone
"Lucy and Yukino?" Natsu said as END nodded
""whatever the kingdom is planning, it's not good, not good at all""
The sound of bottle breaking was heard as Natsu and END looks to the side and sees a figure running away
""a spy?"" END said as Natsu dashes and catches the cloaked figure by appearing in front of him
"who are you?" Natsu asked the figure before he smelled a familiar scent coming from the cloaked figure
"Lucy?" Natsu said in confusion before the figure pulled away from the hood of the cloak
The cloaked figure revealed to be Lucy
"what's with the getup? It's not Halloween, yet" Natsu told her before he sees Lucy crying
"what's wrong?" Natsu asked her
"please…..help" Lucy begged to Natsu who was confused on what was going on
That's a wrap!
Bye bye