Chapter 189

The Second Origin

A month later...

Mira and Willy stood before each other in an open area of the swamp squaring off against each other and ready to fight. Lisanna, Cana, Elfman stood on the sidelines, and Tu Chi stood in between them, acting as referee. Mira was also in her base Satan Soul form, while Willy had his hands radiating with water. Everyone was silent, not a single person saying a word. Tu Chi then gave her staff a sharp tap on the ground as she yelled out.

"Hajime!"

At the sound of her voice, Willy and Mira disappeared within a fraction of a second the two clashed with rapid-fire blows while moving at an incredible speed and made the air tremble.

"Amazing," Lisanna gasped in amazement. "They're moving so quickly; I can barely keep track of them."

"No kidding," said Cana. "I already know that Mira's been getting strong, but Willy's gotten just as. It's crazy."

"Y-Yeah, those two are on a whole other level," Elfman spoke, stunned. "It's almost kind of scary."

WILLY'S POV

I dashed and shot around using my speed and technique to my advantage, trying my best to catch Mira by surprise. But every time I did, she blocked, dodged, and was ready to counter every time. The same could also be said for me whenever Mira tried to get a hit in. Then as Mira swung her tail, I jumped up and came down with a punch, only for Mira to dodge by jumping back. Next, I shot towards her with a single leap gearing up for another blow, and Mira was quick to swing her fist too. But then, at the last minute, I tilted my head to the side, avoiding it, while my fist continued straight towards her face.

Then, I heard Tu Chi.

"Ya-me!"

My fist then stopped a few inches from Mira's face. Then, the two of us stepped back, and Mira dispelled her Satan Soul reverting to normal.

"Looks like you win this one, Willy," said Mira. "That makes it five wins for you."

"Yeah, but you've won your fair share, too, Mira," I said while smiling lightly. "Six of them, to be precise."

"Hey, don't forget about me!" barked Elfman. "I've won at least four of them!"

"Well done. I'm very proud of all of you," said Tu Chi. "It's been a long and hard three months, but you've persevered and grown stronger. And with that, I declare that your training is over."

"Oh, yeah! Time to get back to civilization!" Cana cheered eagerly. "I like camping out, but I can't wait to get back home again!"

"You said it," Lisanna concurred. "I can't wait to get back to Magnolia, although I am going to miss this place. It's grown on me."

"Well, maybe we can come back here for a picnic sometime in the future," suggested Mira.

Cana gawked at Mira incredulously. "Girl, you must be kidding," she said. "You guys can come back if you want to, but this girl's the city type, and this place isn't one I don't want to be in any time soon."

Everyone laughed. Even I couldn't help but smile a little bit.

"I'm sure you're eager to head home, Cana," said Tu Chi. "But I would like to make a small pit stop along the way, and I would like for you all to come with me."

"A pit stop?" repeated Mira. "Where are we going?"

"I've arranged to meet a couple of friends over by the forest close to Akane Resort," Tu Chi explained. "And I would appreciate it if you could all come with me."

"Hey, that's where Natsu and Levy's groups went to train," I realized. "There's a chance we might run into them."

"Yeah! We can show them just how manly we've become!" Elfman eagerly roared while flexing his muscles. "Plus, we'll be able to see how their training went!"

"Hey, you're right!" Lisanna smiled. "I've been wondering how everyone else's training went. It'll be great to see everyone!"

"And we'll get some time to relax a bit by the beach before heading back to Magnolia," Cana spoke eagerly. "And a chance to drink up some booze."

"Then, it's decided," said Tu Chi. "Now, come along. We haven't any time to waste. I want to get there before dusk, and we've got a lot of ground to cover."

Everyone then got packed up and soon left the swamp once we finished. But as we left, I couldn't help but look back. Despite all the hellish training I've gone through, I was glad I came. I truly felt that I'd grown a lot over the three months.

"Hey, Willy! You coming?"

Upon hearing Mira call out to me, I snapped out of my nostalgia and looked back and saw her waiting for me while the others walked ahead. I jogged over to catch up as we left the swamp behind us, not wanting to be left behind.

It wasn't too long before we were at the train station in Oshibana. The plan was to take the train to Hargeon and then walk the rest of the way to Akane Resort. It wasn't too long before the train arrived at the station. As we took our seats, I was looking forward to a smooth ride, but unfortunately, that wouldn't happen. The train started up with a jolt, and it was on its way, but no sooner than it did, I immediately felt a massive fit of discomfort in the pit of my stomach. At first, I thought it was nothing, but eventually, the feeling grew to the point where I felt dizzy and nauseous at the same time.

"Wh-What's going...!" I mumbled before feeling the bile build up in my mouth, causing me to cover it with a hand.

"Willy, what's the matter?" asked Tu Chi. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Yeah, you looking a little green at the gills there," said Cana.

"I... don't know," I said with a throaty voice. "I feel as if... my stomach is..."

But I couldn't complete my sentence as another wave of vertigo wracked my brain while my nausea grew stronger. The world felt like it was spinning, and I felt like I would faint along with throwing up.

"Hey, wait a second. This seems a bit familiar," said Elfman. "Don't tell me..."

Mira then took a look at my face. "I think I might know what's going on," she said. "It seems to me that Willy's got a mean case of motion sickness."

"HUH?!"

Elfman, Lisanna, Cana, and I couldn't help scream as we were surprised.

"I-I have motion sickness?!" I groaned. "But... I thought this was Natsu's thing. How... could I have..."

But once again, I couldn't help but hold back the bile, forcing me to hold my mouth.

"Hey! Don't even think about throwing up on me!" warned Elfman.

"So, Willy has motion sickness like Natsu now?" Lisanna spoke, still bewildered. "I thought that happened to only him."

"Well, apparently not," said Cana.

"So... this is what Natsu deals with..." I croaked weakly. "It's absolute hell..." I then looked across to Tu Chi. "M-Master... don't you know... something... that can help me through this?

"Unfortunately, I don't," replied Tu Chi. "I could use my magic, but it would be very draining if I had to use it constantly."

I couldn't but let out a sickly moan in despair, thinking that I would have to bear with it throughout the ride, but then Mira sat down next to me. "Don't worry. I think I know something that could help you," she said. "Just relax for a second, okay?"

I did as Mira asked, unsure what she was going to do, but then I felt her take my head and gently move it down until my head came to rest on a place that felt very soft. At first, I thought I was lying on a pillow, but when I looked up, I saw Mira looking down at me while everyone else stared. That was when I realized that I was now lying on Mira's lap.

"I know this isn't much, but it should make the trip somewhat bearable," said Mira.

"Well, aren't you lucky, Willy," teased Lisanna. "You get to have a special lap pillow all to yourself."

"If I were a guy, I'd be insanely jealous," said Cana. "Make sure not to puke on Mira's dress. She does have a reputation to keep up, you know."

I could feel my cheeks growing hotter as I pretended not to hear them. Then, the train car jolted a bit, making my cheeks chuff up.

Mira then started petting my head in comfort. "There, there, Willy. You're going to be okay," she soothed. "Just close your eyes and try not to think about it."

As she continued to pet my head, I felt more embarrassed than I was sick. I mean, I was lying down on Mira's lap. However, as I lay there while she continued to pet my head, I started to grow more comfortable and even a little sleepy. I tried to keep myself awake, but I closed my eyes and let myself drift away, eventually falling fast asleep after a while.

After a while, we got off at Hargeon Station, and I felt much better. After that, we traveled to the Akane Resort on foot, which was lucky for me. It wasn't too long before we arrived. The sun shone, the wave crashed against the shore, and the sweet smell of the beach filled the air. However, we didn't have the time to enjoy it all. We soon left the beach and headed into the forest behind it.

"So, where are we going Tu Chi?" asked Lisanna. "Is this the place where we're supposed to meet these friends you were talking about?"

"It's a bit further down in this forest," replied Tu Chi. "They wanted to meet us over at the west hill past the suspension bridge."

"I wonder what these people are going to be like," wondered Cana. "And they better not be someone shady."

"Don't worry. If anyone tries to mess with us, we can handle it," Elfman spoke with confidence punching his fist into his palm. "It'll be a good warm-up for my manly muscles."

"Now, hold on. I'm sure that Master Tu Chi's friends can't be all bad," I said. "I mean, if Tu Chi knows them, then they must be trustworthy. But, then again, I've never seen them before."

"So what are these friends of yours like, Tu Chi?" asked Mira. "Do you know them very well?"

"Well, as far as that goes, we've been keeping in contact for a while," the old woman replied. "Although, it's mostly been by letter because they've always been on the move lately. And don't worry, they're pretty friendly; if anything, you might already know them."

"Already know them?" I repeated. "Could it be Natsu and the others? That would make sense."

"You'll just have to find out when we get there," Tu Chi spoke. "Some of the greatest things we can experience is an unexpected experience."

"Look, Willy, I get that she's a Ten Wizard Saint, and she's all mystical and stuff, but does she always have to speak in riddles?" Cana asked me. "I mean, with all due respect, it's kinda confusing."

"You got me," I said to her. "I guess I've been with her for so long; I've gotten used to it."

Then we came to the suspension bridge that overlooked a large chasm. The chasm itself looked so deep; it seemed bottomless. Not to mention the suspension bridge itself looked a bit sketchy to me, especially since its material was of wood and rope, but our group crossed over it and made it to the other side.

"We should be getting close now," said Tu Chi. "It's just a bit further ahead."

As we kept going, we heard the sounds of voices coming from up ahead. The first was an unknown female voice, and a familiar male voice followed.

"Anyway, as much as we'd love to keep catching up, we brought you here to ask a favor. But before we do, we're expecting a few more people to be joining us."

"A few more people? Who else is coming?"

It was then I saw two groups of people as we approached. The first was Team Natsu and Team Shadowgear, all wearing casual clothing. The second group was of three people; one male and two women. One of the women had green eyes, long pink hair in a wavy ponytail with brown earmuffs on top and hidden under a blue cloak; she wore a red dress with gold trims and a yellow bow in the middle, black stockings, and a pair of brown boots. The second had long purple hair held by a white ribbon with brown eyes and wore a black sleeveless leotard with a white cross design that exposed her back, black sleeves with white gloves, and long black boots. She also held a green ball-like crystal by her side. Finally, the male I recognized upon seeing him. Aside from his outfit, which was a black coat with gold trims and plating, dark brown pants and boots, his blue hair, while a bit longer, was still the same as before, and he still had that brown tattoo under his right eye.

The male then looked in our direction. "Well, it looks like you've all made it," he said. "Glad to see you all haven't changed much either."

"Apologies for the wait," said Tu Chi. "But it seems like we got here just in time."

Natsu and the others looked too, and needless to say, they were surprised to see us.

"Hey! It's Willy's group!" gasped Wendy.

"Hey, guys! How's it going?" greeted Elfman.

"Yeah! Long time no see!" chimed in Cana.

Upon seeing Elfman, Natsu's eyes widened in surprise and amazement. "Holy crap, Elfman! You sure packed on some muscle, Big Guy!" he said.

Elfman proudly flexed his arm. "That's right! I've got the muscles a real man dreams of!" he rumbled.

"The three of us have been training super hard over the past few months," said Lisanna. "And we've all gotten stronger thanks to that."

I then walked over to the male bluenette. "So it is you, Jellal. It's been a long time," I said to him. "The last we saw each other was back with Nirvana and the council. And considering that you're here now, I guess Jura wasn't kidding when he said you broke out."

Jellal smiled. "Willy Falconer. It's a pleasure to see you again," he said. "And I take it that your memories have returned?"

"Yes, they have," I replied. "It's been a bit rough, along with getting through some other stuff recently; I'm back to my old self again."

"Glad to hear it," replied Jellal. "I suppose that makes two of us."

"Do you know this man, Willy?" asked Mira. "Who is he?"

Before I could respond, the woman with pink hair suddenly appeared in front of my vision catching me by surprise.

"So, you're the famous Willy Falconer, huh?" she spoke curiously. "Well, you're certainly not what the rumors say about you. You're everything Jellal said you'd be."

"Now, Meldy, I know you're a curious girl, but try not to crowd the boy," the purple-haired woman said. "You're being a bit rude."

"And who might you two be?" asked Mira.

Tu Chi then introduced them. "Allow me to introduce, Jellal, Meldy, and Ultear," She turned to Jellal. "I apologize that we got here a little late, Jellal."

"Not at all," replied Jellal. "We were about to wait for you to arrive. But now that you're here, we can proceed. Now, about that favor, this is something that I need to ask all of you."

He turned to Ultear and gave her a nod, and she spoke up next.

"You're all planning to participate in the Grand Magic Games, correct? But, unfortunately, we can't get near the coliseum without running into any trouble, so we'd like for you to do something while you're there.

"Is it because you want someone's autograph?" Natsu asked with a straight face.

Ultear frowned, trying her best not to snap. "I'll pretend I didn't hear you say that," she huffed.

Jellal then explained. "Every year, we sense unusual amounts of magic power during the games, so we want you to find out what's the cause of it."

"But guilds come from all over Fiore gather for the games, though," pointed out Lucy. "So it shouldn't be any surprise magic would be filling the place."

"We wouldn't be asking you if we weren't certain," said Jellal. "And what's more, the power we've been sensing is not only evil but reminiscent to Zeref."

I couldn't help but cringe a bit at this, knowing the name. There wasn't a man alive who hadn't heard of the black wizard. Not only that, but I also remembered back on Tenrou Island when we were fighting who spoke of the same name.

"Zeref? Are you sure it's related?" asked Erza.

Jellal nodded. "Yes. We have reason to believe that due to our prior experiences, they have given us the ability to perceive any trace of the black wizard's powers."

"Which is why ascertaining the truth of this matter is paramount," said Ultear. "If we can locate the source of that energy, it can help us find him."

"And don't worry. You'll be fairly compensated just like any job," added Meldy. "However, discretion is important. We don't want the enemy to know we're on to them, so we'll be cheering for you from behind the scenes."

There was a brief pause before Erza spoke again.

"It sounds like a wild goose chase, but we'll do it."

"Hold on. Are you sure about this, Erza?" asked Lisanna.

"We don't have a choice in the matter," the redhead resigned.

"She's right," said Mira. "Guilds from all over Fiore will be gathering around this supposed power, and it'll be bad for us too."

"Did we mention that we'll be paying you upfront?" Ultear added with a slight smile.

"Food money!" Natsu, Happy, and Lucy immediately cried.

"Booze!" Cana also cried.

Ultear then chuckled as she held up her crystal ball, making it levitate from her hand. "Oh no. It's not something so material like money or food. I've had years to study my Arc of Time magic, and now I can use it to enhance your abilities. A "Power Up" so to speak, although not completely accurate."

"What do you mean?" asked Elfman.

"All wizards possess something like a magic container inside them that determines how much magic power they have," explained Ultear. "Although it depletes with every spell that you cast, your body naturally draws in ethernano on its own from the surrounding atmosphere. It continues to do so until the container is full again. However, recent research has revealed that another part of this container goes unused with its magic. A "reservoir" of dormant power. They've come to call this hidden container of magic the "Second Origin."

"Second Origin?" I couldn't help but repeat.

"Not only can my Arc of Time make the Second Origin accessible, but it can also help your containers to grow," went on Ultear. "To put it simply, you'll not only be able to use more powerful magic, but you can keep using it for longer periods."

Everyone couldn't help but marvel in delight. Natsu's group, in particular, couldn't help but cheer at this.

"I don't know what you just said, but I like it!" Natsu eagerly grinned.

"Yeah! It sounds freaking manly!" agreed Elfman.

I couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical. "Hold on. I understood everything that you just said, but there's more, isn't there?" I spoke with a raised brow. "What's the catch?"

Ultear paused. Then, her face turned dark as she glared sternly. "It's simple. Unlocking your Second Origin will put you through unimaginable pain," she said ominously. "Be ready."

The others now felt a bit uneasy given how grim Ultear looked. But Natsu was elated as he tackled Ultear while giving her a big hug while nuzzling in her chest.

"I don't care about that! Thank you so much! You're awesome!" he spoke with affection. "I know we've had our differences, but what's in the past now! By the way, I'm totally cool with you being a crossdresser and junk!"

"What do you mean, crossdresser?!" Ultear spoke indignantly.

"He still thinks that she's that old man from before?!" Gray exclaimed with surprise.

"Yeah, I don't even want to know what he's talking about," sighed Cana.

"That's our Natsu for you," giggled Lisanna.

Everyone was getting very excited.

"This is amazing!" Lisanna spoke excitedly. "Now, along with our training, we'll become even more unstoppable! Isn't that great?!"

No sooner than she said that, everyone in Natsu's group immediately stopped cheering and grew depressed in seconds, while everyone in our group was puzzled.

"Oh my. The mood shifted in a matter of seconds for some reason," said Mira.

"What's the matter, everybody?" asked Lisanna.

"You might have accidentally reminded them of something traumatic," I told her. "Maybe they went through some hellish training, and they don't want to talk about it."

Jet and Droy then came over.

"You're kinda right about that, but it's a bit more complicated and even depressing," said Jet.

"What do you mean by that?" wondered Cana. "What happened?"

"Well, it's a long story," said Droy. "So you might want to brace yourselves for what we're about to tell you."

The Strauss siblings, Cana, and I could stare blankly at the two as Jet and Droy began telling us what had happened.

Sorry about the wait, but things have been busy for me, not to mention that my laptop is going for repairs!

But don't worry, I will continue this story!

As always, Read and Review this story, and PM me if you have any questions!