Greetings, everyone! One Half here!
Finally, my long work about thinking this arc through is done, and I'm ready to present you the Edolas arc!
A few words before we begin.
To be honest, when I just began to write this story, I was thinking about just skipping the Edolas arc altogether. Just like the original manga, plot-wise my story wouldn't have lost anything. However, as my story was developing, I actually thought of some use for this arc, though, when I was struggling to finish Nirvana's arc, I had no time to think further. This is why, when I finally came to this point, it took some time to complete detailed planning. From here on my work should go much smoother.
As for the characters that will be participating in this 'event'… You see – next arc is the Tenrou Island, and there will be a huge crowd of characters, so I decided to reduce the 'cast' of this arc to essential minimum. Only the main cast is going to participate, five – seven characters, I'll see how it'll go.
Now, answers for the reviewers:
TheDragneel: I'll send you a PM with the link to the reference picture… if I'll manage to find it again.
GinZura is Real: You're welcome, thank you for reading and writing reviews.
FanFictionHunter: Seriously, your ability to focus on fifth plane characters never ceases to amaze me. And no, there's no death flag for Gildarts… and no any other flags as well xD.
Rajo: Again, thanks a lot for a big review, I'm actually still thinking about what you've wrote. I've wanted to reply you via PM… but I forgot, sorry xD. I'll be more mindful next time =)
kuro yaksha: Thank you, here's an update, as soon as I could make it.
Qhris: Yes, yes, I know – I need to find some time for that story as well…
RebelTreecko: Don't worry, ask away, and thanks for the review.
I hope I didn't forget anyone, if I did – sorry. Now, let's proceed to the story, let's continue our dark fantasy version of Fairy Tail, shall we?
Chapter XXXXI – Another World?
…
March 5, X785, 13:45, Minstrel Republic, Ivy Bush City, Auction House.
Natsu was sitting on a leather sofa, in one of numerous guest rooms in Ivy Bush Auction House. Natsu came here again, but this time he had no intentions to buy anything, in contrary – he wanted to put an item on auction to sell it. He was guided into this room by one of AH's clerks, and now he was waiting for someone to evaluate the item he wanted to put on sale.
Natsu came here alone – he no longer needed Sin to travel as he could fly on his sword. Erza was meditating in SIR, so Natsu decided to not disturb her, and Sin simply wasn't interested in this auctioning stuff, so he didn't come – Natsu definitely don't need help with this routine task.
A door of the guest room, where Natsu been waiting, opened, and a familiar person came into the room. A slim, good-looking, blonde-haired lady in her late twenties walked into the room. That was a Chief Auctioneer of the Silver Star Merchants' Ivy Bush City auction house, a woman known as Alessia Romano.
Natsu stood up from sofa as lady auctioneer quickly approached him, her face was full of smiles. "Mister Bloodfallen, sorry to make you wait, it is a great honor for me to greet you in our auction house!" She greeted Natsu formally, "My name is Alessia Romano, I represent Silver Star Merchants' Ivy Bush City auction house."
Since Natsu was one of Ten Wizards Saints, there was no surprise that she knows who he is, and of course Natsu remembered her – from his last visit to this auction house. And it was quite obvious – despite she's acting very polite, she is actually in quite a hurry, she's a busy woman – no doubts. Natsu also had no time to waste, so he decided to get down to busyness right away.
"Missis Romano, thank you for your time," Natsu greeted her as he shook her hand she offered to him, "I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. I've heard that spell books are usually in quite high demand, so I'd like to put this one on the auction." As he pronounced that, with the cracking sound of lightning, something appeared in Natsu's left hand. That wasn't a book, though, or at least that doesn't seem like one – just a set of pages, fastened in a slapdash way. "Found this during one of my bounty missions," Natsu commented, "Don't mind its appearance, the spell set here is pretty solid, please, take a look."
Alessia just nodded – she's an experienced wizard, and a real wizard never puts form over content. She took the 'book' from Natsu's hand and began to examine it. She's been turning pages quickly at first but started to slow down. When she reached about the middle of the book, she stopped reading, raised her head and looked at Natsu. The sight of her clear blue eyes seemed a bit absent, as if she was thinking of something, or rather, calculating something.
"Mister Bloodfallen," She finally spoke out, "Don't mind my asking, but how much do you think you can get for this book?"
Natsu was surprised a bit, isn't it her job to evaluate items being put for sale? Though, he decided to not ask unnecessary questions but just play along. During his previous visit to auction house, Natsu memorized final prices for spellbooks, so he could guess an approximate value of the book he wanted to sell. "Well, this book contains a full spellset of eight spells, including two high-grade formulas, so I'm expecting the final price for this one to reach about 650 – 690 thousand jewels," God of ruin voiced his expectations.
Alessia slightly nodded, apparently Natsu's evaluations more or less matched her own. She again looked at him, as she slightly bit her lower lip, demonstrating her perfectly white teeth, she definitely was thinking of something. Natsu didn't say anything, he patiently waited until she'd come to some conclusion. After about thirty seconds of thinking, she finally spoke out. "Mister Bloodfallen, how do you feel about not putting this book for the auction, but instead selling it directly to me?" She voiced her proposition. "I'm willing to pay 720 000 jewels to you, right here and now. Even though there's a slight possibility that you may get a bit bigger price, the chances are slim, besides, you'll have to wait for an auction session to end," She explained.
Now it was Natsu's turn to look thoughtfully at a lady in front of him. Her proposition was adequate, and getting some money ASAP was something that definitely would've come in handy, but agreeing right away would've been a mistake, it would make Natsu to look like he's actually in need of money (which actually was the case…)
"May I assume that you want this book for mister Alessandro Romano?" Natsu asked casually. Of course he did his homework (and made a note, to not forget any important name) before coming here. Alessandro Romano was Alessia's husband and eldest son of Silver Star Merchants' Ivy Bush City Auction House's director (or CEO, whatever…), whose name Natsu forgot and had no need to remember right now. Alessandro was a few years younger than Alessia, and he was a wind magic user (Natsu never saw him in person though, but Alessia's attribute is Rainbow – mix of light and water, she definitely has nothing to do with the wind, thus Natsu's assumption).
"You really are well informed, but I would expect nothing less from someone of your status and reputation," Golden-haired lady smiled slightly, "You are correct, I think my husband may find these unorthodox formulas interesting. After many experiments it seems like wind magic fits him best, as if he has some sort of affinity…" She added thoughtfully.
Natsu withstood desire to facepalm. Apparently, Alessandro wasted a few years of his life to learn his elemental affinity via trials and errors method. And, most likely, the same applies to Alessia herself. The fact that knowledge about attributes was lost really is hindering magic development in this forsaken part of the world…
"Anyway, about your proposition," Natsu decided to get back on track. "If you're willing to rise to 730 000, then that's a deal, missis Romano," Natsu made an offer as he outstretched his arm.
"Alright," Alessia nodded after a few seconds of thinking, and shook Natsu's hand. Seems like Natsu's guess was right that she actually set a limit for 750 000 in case he would bargain on price, but he decided that he shouldn't be too greedy. Alessia flicked a small bell, which was standing on table, but, surprisingly, it didn't make any sound. However, within about half a minute, an auction's clerk has arrived. He brought a check book, which Alessia took and signed a check for 730 000, just as she and Natsu have agreed. She didn't give the book to the clerk, though.
Natsu took the check and was about to leave, but Alessia called for him again. "One last thing before you go, mister Bloodfallen," She addressed him, "If you won't mind, I'd like to add you into our AH's VIP sellers' roster. I'm sure you're a busy man and your time is valuable, so next time you decide to sell some of your trophies, please come directly to me or my husband, don't waste time on clerks and these guest rooms." She's a true business woman, alright – having some decent relationships with one of Ten Wizards Saints (and top-tier bounty hunter) definitely won't hurt. But, most importantly, who knows what he may find during his missions? If he'll get something of value and decide to put it on sale, she may not allow it to slip by her.
"Alright," Natsu nodded – he has no reason to refuse as this agreement doesn't obliges him to do anything, but may open a way for him to use some 'extra' services of the Auction House. With that, Natsu's business with the AH has been concluded, he slightly bowed to Alessia and left the room. For a few moments, a golden-haired woman was thoughtfully looking at the door, which just closed behind Natsu, then her body turned into a heap of radiant water droplets and disappeared.
Just as Natsu came out of the AH's palace, he jumped on his sword and flew off. He was pretty satisfied – he actually didn't expect to get more than 700k jewels for that 'book', not to mention to get money today – initially he was expecting to get money only after a monthly auction session.
And just as Natsu left the vicinity of the Ivy Bush City, he got a telepathic message from his familiar. 'Natsu, I have no confirmation for this yet, but it seems like Makarov actually is expecting Gildarts to come back soon, probably tomorrow,' Sin reported.
'Oh,' Natsu smiled a little. 'I wonder how his mission went…' God of ruin thought. He knew no details about Gildarts's mission, only that it is a 100 years quest, which Fairy Tail's Ace took almost four years ago, and he's been traveling ever since. And since Gildarts has no habit to temporary come for R&R during his missions, the fact that he's coming back may mean only two things – either the mission is complete… or Gildarts lost all hopes to complete it, which means that mission is considered failed. Honestly, Natsu thought that probability of second outcome is much higher, but there's definitely no sense in making wild guesses now – soon all will be clear.
March 6, X785, 4:15 (real world time), Sphere of Inverted Reflections
Whilst Natsu was busy visiting the auction house, Erza, Lucy and Mirajane, as well as Nelliel and Haru, all of them were busy, trying different means to increase their strength.
With Erza, Mira and Lucy everything was going more or less smoothly.
Erza and Lucy are accepting the inheritance of powerful beings, the only thing they need is time, their path of evolution doesn't require any external interference.
Mirajane requires a pile of very rare materials, also she has to prepare herself psychologically, and learn a lot of things about magic conducting system, before she can attempt her second reorigination. But as soon as she'll gather all the materials and knowledge – she can go at it, she doesn't need to wait for anything.
Those three's evolution paths are well-developed, and there's nothing unusual needs to be done.
Nelliel and Haru, on the other hand, are tricky subjects. Their parental beings are mutants, with diluted bloodlines. There's no warranty that reorigination is actually performable with these initial conditions, as such, to make sure that both of them will be able to evolve, some additional measures should be taken. Their bloodlines have to be cleansed of impurities and strengthened, but with scarce resources of Magicscar Triangle it's not an easy task… No, in outside world it's not an easy task, inside of Magicscar Triangle it's almost impossible. However…
Yes, Natsu possesses a unique tool, an instrument with almost infinite capabilities, which isn't available neither in outside world, nor anywhere else – Rippers Factory.
Again, it is a tricky subject, let's take Haru as an example. Haru's foster father, Igneel, was a mutant (a so-called dragonoid). He once was a crimson volcanic japalura, somehow dragonized by a Demonic Windstorm Dragon tribe's bloodline. Using the 'standard' method (the bloodline purification), the directly achievable result is to restore the original Demonic Windstorm Dragon's bloodline. As details about a long, painful and demanding ritual are meaningless right now, it's the outcome that is important, and outcome won't be good for Haru. No, of course he will be able to perform a re-origination after purification and strengthening of his bloodline, the problem is the attribute. After purification ritual, the attribute of Demonic Windstorm Dragon will be restored, and that attribute is darkness/wind combination, which has nothing to do with Haru's pure fire attribute. Unlike the 'Magical Avatar Physique' method, the 'Inheritance Acceptance' doesn't change mage's inborn attribute, that's the only thing this method doesn't change, and probably the only drawback of this method in general. This will not only leave a fire attributed Haru with darkness/wind-based power, divine darkness and divine wind essences, 'attached' to Demonic Windstorm Dragon legacy, will be lost, and there are several more, potentially very serious, issues. The final results of such re-origination will be mediocre at best. Natsu may not allow this – he needs Haru as an ally, and mediocre allies won't do.
What to do then? First option – properly choose a being from which you're going to inherit its legacy – an obvious solution, but that's no longer an option, and Haru isn't one to blame, considering different circumstances, including the mess that happened inside of Magicscar Triangle with all those random mutations.
Second option – discard Igneel's legacy and refine the Magical Avatar Physique. Since Haru has no lacrima implanted into his body and he hasn't passed even his first re-origination (and he's probably years away from it), it is possible for him to go the same path as Mirajane. Due to diluted bloodline, even first reorigination of Magical Avatar Physique will prevent his dragon seed from growing, and second will destroy it and all remaining traces of dragonization. But this isn't an option as well. Wasting a dragon's legacy definitely seems very unwise, even if that's not a primordial dragon, considering the scarce resources of Magicscar Triangle. Besides, among two scrolls of Magical Avatar Physiques, that were still in Natsu's possession (third one was given to Mirajane), none of them fit Haru's character and combat style. And last but not least reason – Haru respects his foster father, and he's definitely will be reluctant to discard it.
Third option – …there is no third option. And Natsu hopes to create it by himself, using the Rippers Factory. It's too early to think about the outcome now, but in the best case he'll be able to make Haru into a subtype of Demonic Windstorm Dragon, with all the properties of the primordial dragon, but adapted for fire attribute. An ambitious plan, but Natsu was never lacking ambitions.
And the last one – Nelliel. That one is a different subject, the one that demonstrated to Natsu that he's not as good at reading people's characters as he thought he is. That girl apparently has quite a number of rats in the attic. Initially, observing her during and right after 'Guilds Alliance mission', Natsu came to a conclusion that she will be quite willing to become a dragon, as she holds that race in quite high regards. But following months proved that he was inaccurate in his assessment. In fact, Nelliel is quite willing to discard her humanity, because she holds that race in quite low regards.
As for Nelliel's foster mother, dream dragon Somniara, Nelliel's feelings toward her is quite contradictive. On one hand – she's really thankful to her mother, who raised her and taught her the Dragon Slayer's magic, but on the other hand, it appears that Nel actually holds quite a grudge against her mother for being abandoned. It's a well-known fact that, in Nelliel's system of coordinates, bad treatment of children is the worst sin. It is hard to disagree with that, though Nelliel's own case is debatable, but now it's not important. What really matters now is that, apparently, for Nelliel, it isn't really important what she's going to turn into, only thing that matters is that she'll become strong enough to protect her precious child. If that's a dragon heritage – fine. If something else – fine as well, if that being is strong enough.
Quite a pragmatic disposition, but problem is – this is Magicscar Triangle. Here is no 'Legacies market', where you can choose a heritage of some powerful creature, according to your liking. In fact, in outside world such a thing doesn't exist as well – for all those powerful tribes their legacy is the most precious thing they have, so they guard it zealously.
Finding a heritage of a primordial divine bloodline inside of Magicscar triangle, like Erza did, is the one out of ten billions chance. Besides, Nelliel has a very rare attribute – pure void. Among magical beast tribes, for example, there are no tribes that has void as a primary attribute, not to mention the only attribute. As such, there are still a lot of things to think of…
March 6, X785, 8:25 (real world time), SIR, Host zone
Haru was still busy refining the flame essence, so he cannot be disturbed. Also, since Nelliel is a member of another guild, Natsu also just let her continue training. All members of Fairy Tail, however, have gathered in SIR's host zone, near the exit. Natsu used his control over SIR to deliver the same message to Erza, Lucy and Mirajane, so now all three were waiting for him, with a bit confused expressions on their faces.
Natsu didn't make them to wait for too long, as he appeared from the entrance formation. "Natsu, what's this all about?" Erza asked as soon as he came close enough.
Natsu approached the group before replying, "I've heard that Gildarts is coming back, apparently he should be here in a few hours."
"Really?! How did his mission go?" Mirajane inquired as her eyes brightened, she seemed quite curious about Gildarts's mission, which is understandable – not everyday someone attempts to complete a 100 years quest.
"Gildarts? A man everyone here are calling Oyaji?" Lucy asked in slight confusion.
"Yes, the Ace of our guild," Natsu nodded, Lucy never met him, so her question is understandable. "He took a 100 years quest – a mission that no one was able to complete for more than a hundred years," Natsu explained.
"Wow, so difficult!" Lucy seemed a bit excited, "Are you aware of mission's content, Magister?" She inquired.
"Not really," Natsu slightly shook his head. "It's been just a few weeks after I've joined the guild when Gildarts took that mission, and he's been traveling ever since. Back than I was a bit asocial, so I couldn't care less about others' missions," Natsu rolled his eyes, "And then… there were other matters, so…" Natsu looked somewhere aside. "Anyway, to be honest, I think he failed," God of Ruin added negligently.
"C'mon, Natsu, have a little faith in your guildmates," Mirajane reproved him.
"This has nothing to do with faith," Natsu snorted. "That quest hasn't been completed for a time longer than human's life – I guess that just means that it isn't supposed to be completed by humans…"
"Alright, alright, don't start it," Mirajane swung her arms, waving Natsu off, she had absolutely no desire to hear another lecture about humans' limitations. "Let's go to the guildhall and wait for the old man there," Platinum blonde suggested.
"I agree," Tiger-girl nodded.
"Okay," Natsu nodded, but before he could make a single step, he felt an iron grip on his right arm.
"Natsu-san, a moment of your time, please," Pronounced a dreadfully gentle voice.
He turned his head and looked in surprise at his wife, who's been awfully quiet all this time, as now she was looking at Natsu with horribly bright and kind smile, "Erza?"
"I can feel a smell of an unknown woman's perfume on you," She informed as her smile became even brighter, "Please explain."
Mirajane facepalmed. Lucy just smiled a little and turned away. Natsu also facepalmed with his left arm, but Erza's grip on his right hand became even tighter, which means she's not going to back down. If not for current circumstances, Natsu would've praised Erza's keen sense of smell – he visited an auction house yesterday, since then he already took shower twice and did a lot of other things, yet Erza managed to pick the traces of Alessia's perfume on his arm. But her jealousy…
"Haaah…" Natsu sighed heavily, but being left with no choice, he explained, "Yesterday I've visited the auction house, wanted to put a spellbook on sale. But AH's representative made me an offer to buy-out it slightly above its market price. Would've been quite rude of me if I'd refuse the handshake after such a generous offer, don't you think?"
"You wanted to sell a spellbook?" Mirajane asked, that information picked her interest for some reason.
"Nah, just a draft I've made when I was about six years, I don't even remember why I took it with myself when I came here, and it was gathering dust ever since," Natsu carelessly waved off Mira's question. Yes, he lied to Alessia about that 'book's origin.
"You… you've created a spellbook when you've been six years old?!" Lucy's eyes widened as she stared at Natsu.
"Five, actually…" Natsu rolled his eyes. "Those spells weren't really original, just my own, simple interpretation of okā-sama's wind magic…" He elaborated.
"Uuuu…" Mirajane released an anguished moan, 'No, this guy definitely is in league of his own…'
Erza, on the other hand, doesn't seem impressed – she's well aware of Natsu's capabilities, so such "revelations" can no longer put her in awe. "Representative… was it that woman we saw the last time we've visited the AH?" She-dragon asked as her smile waned and eyes narrowed. Alessia is a gorgeous woman and Erza had some suspicions (which only exist in her unhealthy consciousness) for quite some time that Natsu prefers older woman.
Natsu didn't like her reaction. He made a small step towards his wife and looked straight into her lotus-like eyes, "Erza, my dear, I admit, usually your jealousy flatters me, but now you're going overboard." There was a barely noticeable threat in his words.
But before Erza could reply, despite she and Natsu were standing very close (Erza was still holding his arm), Lucy and Mirajane somehow managed to squeeze between them.
"Erza-san, please, get a hold on yourself," Lucy asked politely.
"Natsu, we all know how these interactions between you and that madwoman usually end up, but now we really have no time for this," Mirajane addressed Natsu. "If you don't want to miss Gildarts's arrival, we better go now," She added.
Erza waited for a few moments, but then released her grip on Natsu's arm. "Humph!" She snorted and turned away; it wasn't really clear why she's displeased – maybe she just didn't like that Natsu was traveling without her?
"Not that I'm really interested to meet him…" Natsu mumbled, but he agreed to let go of that matter.
With that "case" being settled, all four headed to the guild.
March 6, X785, 10:40, Fairy Tail guildhall
It's been a while since the last time Natsu and others have visited the guildhall (about two weeks, since the endurance race), but of course – nothing has changed here.
"It certainly looks like the two of you have grew accustomed to this guild," Lucy noted as she looked at Wendy, who was reading a large book at one of the tables in the guildhall. She seemed completely unperturbed, despite the huge crowd of drunk fools, drinking and yelling all around the guildhall.
Carla was sitting near the book, which Wendy was reading, drinking tea. "I like that there's a girls-only dormitory," White kitty interjected.
"Come to think of it, why don't you live in the dorm, Lucy-san?" Wendy asked with friendly smile.
Tiger-girl thought for a moment, "As I'm thinking of it now, I've only learned about its existence not too long ago," She started to explain. "I've been introduced to the guild by Natsu-san, and he didn't mention the dormitory. And, as I realize this now, he advised me to rent a house of my own because, in particular, visiting me in dormitory would've been inconvenient for him. Besides, I'm never would've been able to buy-out a room in dormitory, as I did with my house, so now I can refurnish and/or remake it as I see fit."
Wendy's eyes brightened, it seems that she wanted to ask Lucy about something else, but, all of a sudden, two idiots (Max and Warren) barged into guildhall, screaming "Big news!" And, before they could tell anyone about the news they've learned, bells started to ring all around the Magnolia town.
"What is going on?" Lucy looked around in surprise
""Bells?"" Carla and Wendy asked simultaneously.
"The way they're ringing…" Mirajane smiled.
"Could it be…!?" Gray asked as Juvia stood beside him with perplexed expression.
"-Those bells!"
"-Oh man!"
"-Does that mean…?!"
All around the town, the passersby were in awe.
"I see, so he really did come back…" Natsu noted to himself.
"GILDARTS!" The entire crowd of Fairy Tail members screamed in unison, jumping in the air, as some sort of a celebration immediately began.
"I wonder if I have to punish them…" Erza asked (probably herself) as she approached Wendy and others.
"Gildarts? I've never met anyone by that name… Who is it?" Wendy looked at Erza and other two questioningly.
"He's the current Ace of our guild, the most powerful wizard in Fairy Tail," Mirajane explained.
"Huh? You mean… he's even stronger than Erza and Natsu!?" Skymaiden's eyes widened in surprise.
"For now, yes," Sin confirmed as he appeared as if from nowhere (in his little dragon-like form).
"Not for long, though," Natsu added casually as he also came closer.
"Just how strong is that man?" Carla asked uncertainly.
"I see," Lucy nodded, "However, what is with this celebration?"
"Just as usual…" Sin shook his boney skull.
"Told you," Natsu addressed both his wife and his familiar, "Mass of idiocy in this guild is growing proportionally to the number of its members. About 80% of these people never met Gildarts before, yet now they all are like that…" True to Natsu's words, last time Gildarts did visit the guildhall almost four years ago, back then Fairy Tail was still a small and unremarkable guild, with only 35 or so members.
"Gildarts set for his journey at July 6, X781, back then Fairy Tail was just a small rural guild," Sin elaborated. "Most of these people have never seen him, but since when those people require an actual reason to celebrate?"
"It's just like a festival, Carla!" Wendy exclaimed excitedly, she didn't seem concerned about lack of real reason to celebrate.
"What an unruly guild, indeed," Carla replied reproachingly.
"But Gildarts-san has been gone for so long…" Wendy looked at senior mages, "Almost four years – what was he doing?"
"Above S-class quests are SS-class quests. And above those are jobs called 10 Year Quests…" Mirajane began to explain.
"10 Year Quests?" Skymaiden wondered.
"They are tasks that no one has accomplished in ten years," Erza answered Wendy's question, "Thus the name '10 Year Quest'. But Gildarts went on a job even higher than that… a 100 Year Quest."
"100 Year Quests?!" Wendy asked in awe.
"Meaning no one's accomplished it in a whole century?!" Carla exclaimed, "Wait, how it is still actual?!"
Whilst Fairy Tail wizards were celebrating, town's criers were announcing the news. They didn't sound pleased, by the way…
"It's Gildarts!"
"Gildarts is back!"
"It's happening!"
Townsfolk seemed frightened.
Magical flying speakers were announcing: "Now commencing Magnolia's Gildarts Shift! Citizens! Please take your designated positions immediately!"
"Sheesh, aren't they making too much of a fuss?" Carla asked skeptically.
"I wonder why…?" Wendy seemed puzzled.
"Magister, what is "Magnolia's Gildarts Shift"?" Lucy inquired, looking at Natsu.
"Ah, this…" Sin shook his skull.
"Yeah, I've almost forgot," Natsu sighed, "Step outside and you'll see, that probably will be the most idiotic thing you've seen in your life…" He waived towards guildhall's door.
Lucy blinked in surprise, but did as been told, Wendy and Carla followed her. And, to three girls' surprise, town's building began to shift their positions.
"For real?!" Tiger-girl's violet eyes became saucer-wide.
"What is this!?" Carla seemed shocked.
Within about one minute, Magnolia was literally split in half, making a direct road from town's gates to Fairy Tail guildhall.
"The town… has been split?!" Wendy couldn't believe her eyes.
"Gildarts uses "Crush" magic," Erza explained with soft smile, she didn't seem concerned about the town's metamorphosis.
"Everything he touches gets obliterated, so if he's not paying attention he may accidentally walk into private houses and destroy them…" Mirajane smiled wryly.
"Seriously?!" Wendy almost jumped in shock.
"How is that possible to be so dumb?!" Lucy also seemed startled, "And you modified town just for that?!"
"In his defense I must say that all these modifications were paid off using money that Gildarts earned being a member of Fairy Tail," Natsu spoke out. "And he earned a lot of fame for our guild, both directly and indirectly, as I've come to Fairy Tail because of him, remember?" He added, explaining Gildarts' contributions.
"He sounds amazing, Carla!" Wendy exclaimed excitedly, being truly impressed by Gildarts' achievements.
"Yes, amazingly stupid," Carla snorted.
Whilst they were talking, someone approached the guildhall. That was a muscular man with shoulder-length orange hair and a stubbly beard. His attire was rather simple – a long, black, high-collared and tattered cloak with shoulder plates; around his waist was a simple belt. He also wears loose-fitting dark pants and tucked inside simple boots. His name was Gildarts Clive.
He walked inside of a guildhall through the opened doors… and stopped, looking around in confusion. He scratched his head, sniffed the air, and then sighed in defeat as she addressed a girl who came forth to greet him, "Ojō-san, there used to be a guild called Fairy Tail around here, if I'm not mistaken…" He said uncertainly.
"It is right here," She replied with kind smile, "And I'm Erza," She added, pointing at herself.
"Huh?" He incredulously looked at the girl, but then his eyes widened in shock as he even jerked back a little. "Oohh! You sure have changed!" He announced. No wonder he didn't recognize Erza – back then she was a reclusive girl with dim sight. "Ooh! And so, our guild has been renewed!" He suddenly started to look around excitedly.
"He couldn't tell from the outside?" Lucy seemed shocked, "Even 28 Fairy Tail's banners atop the building didn't help?" Apparently, Gildarts was completely different from her expectations.
"You haven't changed a bit, Oyaji!" Gray proclaimed with glee.
"A man among men!" Elfman agreed.
"Hmm, there are some new faces, too… Things really have changed," Gildarts said to himself with satisfied face expression.
"Gildarts!" Master Makarov's voice called for him.
"Oh, master!" Gildarts approached the bar counter, on which old man was sitting, "Been a while!"
"How's the job went?" Makarov asked the most important question.
In reply, Gildarts just laughed carefreely. But for Makarov it was enough to get the answer. Old man frowned and closed his eyes.
"Not good. I'm not good enough for that," Gildarts admitted as he stopped laughing, shocking almost the entire guild.
"WHAT!?"
"NO WAY!"
"It can't be!"
"Even Gildarts…"
"…Failed at a quest?!"
"Hard to believe… Even Gildarts…" Gary mumbled.
"Well, I guess he has a manly sense of knowing where to quit!" Elfman folded his arms.
Mirajane slightly dropped her shoulders. Apparently, despite Natsu's assessment this morning, she still had hope that Gildarts was able to complete the mission.
"I see… So it is really too much even for the most powerful wizard of the most powerful guild… It is really too much for a human," Lucy smiled to herself. Unlike Mira, Lucy never doubted Natsu's words. She just smiled because she's not human.
"I see. Too much even for you…" Makarov nodded slowly.
"Sorry, I've tarnished our guild's name," Gildarts apologized.
"No, your safe return is all that matters," Makarov spoke back, folding his arms. "To the best of my knowledge, you're the first to ever return from this quest alive."
"Hah," Gildarts smiled wryly. Alright, I'll go home, I need to rest," He announced and made a few steps away, but then stopped as he felt a distinct sight on himself. He turned his head and noticed Natsu, who was looking not at Gildarts, but at his left leg. As Oyaji realized this, he didn't say anything, just shook his head slightly, probably asking Natsu to not pursue that matter now.
"Natsu," Gildarts spoke out. Despite they weren't too good acquainted, Gildartz easily recognized the other party. Natsu didn't change much since back then, besides, he still has a distinct feature. That feature now is sitting on his shoulder, just as it was almost four years ago – Sin. "When you have time, please come by my place later," Gildarts asked as he resumed walking, "I'd like to tell you about a few things…"
"Well, see ya, everyone!" Gildarts waved his arm as he continued to walk towards guildhall's wall. But just as he approached, he didn't crash into it. Instead, his magic worked, as if automatically, making a hole in wall, large enough for Gildarts to pass.
""Use the door!"" Several Fairy Tail mages screamed simultaneously.
"He wants to talk to you?" Erza looked at her husband with slight surprise, "About what?"
"No idea," Natsu admitted. "I guess I'd better go and find out. You people can return to SIR, I see no to reasons to hang around here anymore."
"I'll return to my meditation," Erza nodded.
"I can't go back now," Mira shook her head, "I've been inside for almost four days, I have to stay outside for now," She explained.
"Me neither," Lucy nodded as she looked at her teammate, "If that's the case, shall we take a mission?"
Mira thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, let's go." And two girls headed towards the mission board.
"Wanna go with me?" Natsu addressed his familiar.
"Nah," Sin waved his boney claw, "I'll go look how Haru's doing."
"Good, then you can give me a ride," Erza smiled cunningly, making Sin to roll his eyes (whatever it means for a skeleton without actual eyes).
March 6, X785, 11:55, Gildarts' house.
Gildarts lived in a small house, near Magnolia's town center.
As he approached, Natsu could feel Gildarts' presence, apparently, he was waiting for Natsu. God of ruin knocked the door, "Gildarts, it's me, Natsu!"
"Come in," He heard response almost immediately.
As Natsu came inside, he saw Gildarts sitting on stool, leaning on its back. He seemed very tired. "You came," Old man said as he examined Natsu's appearance. "I guess I really missed a lot," He said with a bit forced smile as he was looking at a certain thing – Natsu's left palm, at his wedding ring, to be more precise. "I guess you and Lisanna got along quite well since then?" He asked with smile.
Natsu blinked in surprise, but then quickly regained his wits as he realized the situation. "No, it's Erza, she is my wife, we got married last October," He informed.
"Oooh!" Gildarts even whistled a little, "She became truly beautiful! Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Natsu nodded. "As for Lisanna," God of ruin sighed, "Probably now isn't the best time to talk about it, but Lisanna is dead," Natsu informed. If Gildarts would blurt out something about Lisanna in the guild – that will be really awkward. "Died on mission, about three and half years ago."
"Ugh!?" Gildarts was deeply shocked. A young and cheerful girl immediately appeared in his memories. He buried his face in his palms and sat like that for about one minute. "I see…" He finally spoke out "…I'm really sorry, Natsu."
"You don't have to be," Natsu replied calmly. Since this house hasn't been cleared for almost four years, Natsu was unwilling to sit on anything here. He took out his huge sword, Magna Ruina, made it to levitate about three feet above the floor, and sat on it. "Playing hide and seek with death is a part of wizard's life. Sometimes we lose… and it seems you've almost proved it as well," He noted.
Gildarts removed his hands from his face and stared at Natsu. Latter's mentality definitely seemed unfitting his age, but Gildarts didn't seem surprised – he saw a lot of people in his life. "You noticed, huh?" Old man asked. What Natsu noticed is that Gildarts' life force was in chaos, something that he managed to hide from entire guild, but not from the heavenly eyes. "If my memory serves me right, you've been interested in magical artifacts and stuff, so maybe you'll be interesting to hear about my mission," Gildarts said with tired voice. He definitely was severely wounded, he was hiding it while he was in guildhall, probably to not affect the guildmates morale. "I met a dragon," Oyaji pronounced.
"Oh?" Natsu raised an eyebrow, Gildarts actually picked his interest.
"Yes, a huge, black dragon. I've met him on the sacred Mountain Zonia, and failed my job thanks to that damn thing," Old man swore. "I don't think it's still there though. That black dragon is soaring all over the continent… if not the world." As he said that, Gildarts stood up and removed his cloak, displaying severely scarred torso. His left arm, below the elbow joint, was replaced with rudimentary wooden prosthetics. His left leg also was missing almost entirely, also replaced with rudimentary wooden prosthetics completed with an armored knee-guard to function as the knee joint.
"Most of this happened in the blink of an eye," Gildarts said with dark tone. "The black dragon demolished my left arm, left leg, and damaged my innards. I don't know if there are other dragons, but that black one is an enemy of mankind, no question about it," Oyaji finished his monologue.
"I see," Nutsu just nodded as Gildarts put back on his cloak. "It seems I've been underestimating you, after all," Natsu admitted, slightly surprising Gildarts with both his calmness and his response. "To meet Acnologia and survive to tell the tale – that's not a small feat. He's one of, if not the most powerful being in the world," Natsu spoke out, of course he had no reasons to tell Gildarts that this 'world' is just a tiny part of a much larger world.
"You know about him?" Gildarts once again has been surprised by Natsu.
"Met him myself, at an archeological site in Poisoned Forest, about half a year ago," Natsu informed. Nexus temple has been destroyed so Natsu had no reasons to hide this information. "Managed to hide myself though, so I was just observing him from afar…" Natsu explained.
"I see," Gildarts pronounced as he regained his wits. "Well, I guess you're much more cautious than me," Old man laughed joylessly, "I actually picked a fight with him…"
"Don't mind my saying, but I don't believe he actually was fighting against you," Natsu said skeptically. "He simply kicked a screechy little dog that was annoying him…"
As Gildarts heard Natsu's words he didn't seem neither offended nor insulted. He just nodded slowly and said with sigh, "I guess so…"
"Well, thanks for the info, old man," Natsu thanked Gildarts as he stood up. From his internal pocket, he picked up a small bottle with some blue potion inside, and leaned it to a wounded guildmate. Oyaji looked at him in puzzlement. "Drink it before you'll go to sleep," Natsu explained, "This potion will help to calm down your life force circulation and heal your innards. As for your lost limbs…" Natsu also gave Gildarts a small piece of paper. "A magic forge, it's in capital city. They can help you with replacements," Natsu nodded towards old man's missing leg. "See you around," God of ruin said as he headed towards the house's door.
"Natsu!" Gildarts called for his guildmate, "Thank you."
Natsu didn't reply anything, just carelessly waved his right arm as he put his sword behind his back with his left. However, as he came outside, Natsu said quietly, "Now we're even." Those small gifts were Natsu's way to thank Gildarts for encouraging him to join Fairy Tail. A peal of thunder resounded in the air and Natsu disappeared with the flash of lightning.
Gildarts just smiled a little as he opened the small bottle and drank the potion to the last drop.
March 6, X785, 12:20, Fairy Tail.
Life in Fairy Tail went on as usual.
"Hey, you! Not so loud first thing in the afternoon!" Cana yelled at a group of several men, which were drinking, screaming and dancing in the middle of the guildhall.
"You're one to talk?" Macao asked, "You start drinking first thing in the afternoon." That wasn't truth, though, Cana starts drinking first thing in the very morning.
"Seriously. Who knows what you're doing to your stomach," Wakaba noted.
"Shut up!" Cana growled, turning towards those two, "I ain't causin' anyone any trouble, am I?!"
"Sor… sorry…" Macao and Wakaba backed down as Cana began to drink booze from a huge mug.
Few feet away, Levy was sitting with several books piled on table in front of her, as she was reading one of them. "Boy, this is difficult…" She mumbled quietly, looking into the book with puzzled face expression.
"What are you reading?" Jet inquired as he and Droy approached Levy.
"A book of poems written in ancient Harakan," Levy replied, not diverting her eyes from the book.
"Ancient Harakan? You mean it's written in super-old language?!" Droy exclaimed as both he and Jet seemed astounded.
"That's right, why do you ask?" Levy wondered as she looked at her teammates.
""You're so awesome, Levy!"" Two of them praised in chorus.
Few feet away from that idiotic scene, Wendy was finishing her lunch. As she put away her fork, she looked towards the guildhall's window. "The rain is coming…" She mumbled quietly. She looked around and noticed that Carla is nowhere near her. "Carla hasn't come back yet?" Wendy asked herself. When Wendy decided to have a lunch, Carla told her that she's not hungry and that she wants to go outside for a while. But with heavy rain clouds gathering above the city, Wendy became a bit worried. "I guess I'll better go look for her," Blue-haired girl decided and went outside the guildhall.
March 6, X785, 12:45, Magnolia.
Skies over town quickly darkened, and rain, no, a downpour, was now in full swing. At this, early spring day, the falling water was pretty cold.
"Carla, where are you?!" Wendy was walking along the street, calling for her feline friend. There was no one else nearby – all town's citizens were hiding from hard rain inside their houses or nearby shops. Then, after walking around for about ten minutes, Wendy noticed a small figure, walking towards her. That was Carla. Skymaiden quickly ran to her, "Carla! I finally found you!"
"Wendy?" Carla asked as if she was surprised to see her, "You'll catch a cold if you run around without an umbrella…"
"The same goes for you!" Wendy replied with the stern face expression. A girl and a cat-girl were just staring at each other for a few moments, before Wendy broke the silence, "Carla, what is going on? Lately, you're disappearing for hours every day, what's the matter?" Something definitely was bothering Carla, but she wasn't telling anything to Wendy.
But before Carla could reply anything, both she and Wendy heard heavy steps from aside – someone was approaching them. "Who's this?" Carla asked uncertainly as stranger approached them and girls could take a good look at him. This was a tall man, wearing tattered clothes and five staves behind his back – that was the most mysterious member of Fairy Tail – Mystogan.
"Wendy…" A man said, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Huh? That voice…" Wendy mumbled as she got startled. Despite it was almost eight years ago, she somehow recognized it.
"Never did I expect you to join this guild…" Man pronounced, removing his mask and revealing his face.
"Jellal?!" Wendy exclaimed in shock.
"Wendy? You know him?" Carla asked, she never saw this man before.
"I am Mystogan of Fairy Tail," He introduced himself.
"Huh? You're member of Fairy Tail?" Carla was surprised, she and Wendy have been members of Fairy Tail for several months, yet they've never met this Mystogan.
"About eight years ago, possessing little knowledge of this world, I told you my name was Jellal," He said, remembering how he met Wendy for the first time.
'This world?!' Calra jerked as if she was electrocuted.
"You… you mean…?" Wendy asked uncertainly as tears swelled in her eyes. Man just nodded in reply as Wendy remembered a young boy who's been helping her to get by just when she found herself all alone, about the day her foster mother disappeared at July 7, X777. "You're that same Jellal… from seven years ago?" Skymaiden asked through tears. She was yarning for that meeting for eight years, "I… I missed you so much!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you," Jellal lowered his head, apologizing. "But there's no time for a joyous reunion right now," He added, as his voice suddenly became stern. Wendy stopped crying as she and Carla looked at the man questioningly. "You have to…" He tried to say but then he grunted and leaned on one of his staffs, as if to keep balance – it seemed as if he felt some dizziness. "You have to leave this city at once!" He forced himself to say as his strength failed him and he fell on knees.
"Jellal!" Wendy called for him worriedly.
"I've failed in my mission…" Jellar spoke out through clenched teeth, "The Anima has grown too large… I can no longer suppress it by myself." He continued to talk, sitting on wet stone of town's street as Wendy and Carla were helplessly watching at him, "Very soon… Magnolia will cease to exist."
"Ah?!" Wendy yelped as she heard his last words.
At the same time, inside of Natsu's SIR.
Natsu was in 'metal zone'. He was sitting on knees as several streams of liquified metal were swirling around him – Natsu was training to improve his control over element of metal. Erza was in 'fire zone', training as well. Sin was checking how Haru's doing, the latter was still busy refining his flame essence. Nelliel exhausted her 96 hours limit, so she went back to Shirotsume town – to spend time in her guild and, more importantly, with her daughter.
There was nothing remarkable here, at least not until someone else came to 'metal zone' and approached Natsu. He opened his eyes, only to see a beautiful lady with two large, black angelic wings – that was one of his bodyguards – Reishena, number three of Shinryō no Setsuma. She wasn't truly here, Reishena and other two could present here thanks to a special summoning technique, for a limited time. However, thanks to special formation, in Natsu's house (including yard) and inside of SIR they can stay indefinitely.
"Ōji-sama!" She knelt to her master, "Please, forgive rudeness of this unworthy servant, but there is a matter that may require your attention!"
"I told you to not call yourself like that, haven't I?" Natsu replied as metal streams that were swirling around him disappeared and he stood up. "You're putting me in a bad light behaving like that. Report," He inquired.
"Yes!" She saluted, still kneeling, "Ōji-sama! I decided to bring to your attention the situation close to your house. There's a heavy rain over small settlement (she meant Magnolia town) near your house, and I believe that rain has an unnatural origin!"
"Come again?" Natsu asked as he came closer to his servant, grabbed her shirt's collar and made her to stand up. "There is a magical rain over Magnolia? Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Fallen angel confirmed. "The rain clouds are localized over settlement, and I feel unusual magical impulses coming from cloud's center. I'm not sure about danger that this cloud may pose to your house, so I'm humbly asking you for permission to investigate!" She requested.
To leave Natsu's house she needs a special lacrima crystal, which will allow her to temporary exist outside of formation's border. The order given to Shinryō no Setsuma by Natsu was "guard the house", and Reishena was intending to do just that – she couldn't care less what will happen to Magnolia and Fairy Tail. As for her warning – Natsu had no reason to doubt her assessment – her clan's attribute – rainstorm – combination of water and thunder – controlling rain is their forte. She is sensitive to such phenomena.
"No, sorry, but I can't let you go there now," Natsu denied her request. "If there's a magical rain over Magnolia, then there's a chance that this is an attack on Fairy Tail from another guild or something, and I can't let you be seen by too many people. Not yet," God of ruin explained his reason. "I'll go myself," Natsu announced.
Black-winged girl slightly bit her lower lip – she definitely was against that, but she didn't dare to argue. Natsu sighed as he placed his left palm on her head, beneath her blood-red, floating halo, and gently stroke her luxury hair, "Relax. I know it's against your code, and against otō-sama's orders to be my bodyguard, but in our current circumstances I can't let others to learn about your existence – that knowledge alone can make a huge uproar in local society, and I definitely don't need that."
"I… I understand, ōji-sama," She reluctantly agreed, "Sorry for my rudeness…" She bowed deeply.
"I want you and Lakshmee to guard the entrance to SIR. And tell Elizasleyn to use her angelic hymn to not let anyone near my house," Natsu ordered as he made his sword to levitate and jumped on its blade.
"Yes, ōji-sama!" Fallen angel saluted as Natsu flew away.
'Sin, find Erza and both of you get to the SIR's entrance, ASAP. There's a probability that are guild is under attack!' Natsu sent a telepathic message to his familiar.
March 6, X785, 12:55, Magnolia.
"Wha… what do you mean? I don't understand at all!" Wendy exclaimed in shock, she couldn't comprehend Jellal's words.
"It's going to end. The town's destruction is already a certainty," Jellal said with visible efforts. "You need to escape while you can," He warned.
"What about Fairy Tail?!" Wendy cried, she seemed angered with Jellal's request for her to flee, "What'll happen to everyone in the guild?!"
Inside of a Fairy Tail guildhall, all wizards were annoyed with bad weather. Well, probably not all…
"There's nothing better than a date with the boyfriend on rainy days like this!" Cana announced, smiling happily and hugging the barrel with some booze.
"Cana… just make sure you leave behind some of that "boyfriend" of yours so we could serve our guests," Levy noted to drunkard.
"Hasn't the forecast said that today's weather will be sunny?" Gray asked, looking into the window.
"I don't think it's Juvia's fault…" Water witch spread her arms helplessly.
"No one's blaming you," Gray shook his head.
Not far from them, Elfman was scolding Jet and Droy, "You gotta be tougher if you wanna be real men! You can't protect Levy as you are now!" Apparently, the two of them ashamed themselves on their last mission.
"Yeah…"
"We… we know…"
"You ended up both being knocked out, and Levy ended up finishing the job all on her own!" Elfman reminded them.
"My ears hurt…" Droy moaned.
"We're pathetic…" Jet mumbled.
"Tell me! What about the guild members!" Wendy demanded an answer.
"They'll all… die…" Jellal admitted reluctantly.
As she heard that, Wendy turned around and started running towards the guildhall.
"Wendy!" Carla called for her friend.
"We have to warn everyone!" Wendy replied as she stopped and looked at her feline partner.
"You mustn't go! You need to leave the town!" Jellal tried to convince her.
"I can't leave by myself! I'm a member of Fairy Tail now!" Wendy declared and continued towards Fairy Tail, quickly disappearing in darkness.
Discouraged Jellal desperately looked at Calra. "Might it be possible for you to save Wendy?" He asked quietly. "Ugh…" He moaned, as if he was in pain.
"I'm not sure…" Carla replied, and quickly ran after Wendy, leaving Jellal all alone. A few moments later, he tried to stand up, but his strength failed him as he fell on stone pavement and lost consciousness.
March 6, X785, 13:00, Magnolia.
Wendy was running toward Fairy Tail guildhall as fast as she could. Due to being in hurry, she wasn't watching under her feet, so she slipped and fell on the ground, face down. "Ugh…" She moaned as he tried to stand up, and at that moment she saw sky's reflection on the watery surface – the rainclouds were forming into a maelstrom. She stood up and looked into the sky, seeing the maelstrom's rotation accelerating, with its epicenter right above the town's center.
She began to run again, the guildhall was just a few hundred feet away from her. In the meantime, with the bright flash of light, Kardia Cathedral and town's buildings in its closest vicinity have disappeared. All buildings have turned into light particles, which headed towards maelstrom's epicenter.
"Everyone! Something bad is happening! The sky…!" Wendy cried in attempt to warn the guildmembers. But just as she was about to pass through the guild yard's gates, the Fairy Tail guildhall also turned into a mass of light particles, which were quickly sucked into the maelstrom. "What he…!? Everyone!" She cried desperately, covering her face from harsh wind. "Augh!" She screamed as strong gust of wind threw her away.
The process was accelerating. House after house, street after street, buildings were turning into light, only to be sucked into the vortex. The lightshow lasted for about two minutes.
March 6, X785, 13:05, A place where Magnolia town once was.
As entire town was sucked into the vortex, the rain abruptly stopped and storm wind calmed down, as maelstrom dissipated. The dark clouds were still covering the sky, though. And here was no trace of that a town once stood here – only a large plain, cowered with white dust. As Wendy managed to get up, she found herself in the middle of white nowhere, she was sitting on white ground and clouds of white dust was floating all around her.
Skymaiden was looking around, with sense of complete unreality of everything that just happened. "No way…" She mumbled weakly. "The guild… is gone… And the town… All of it… This can't be…" She stood up and made a few steps in random direction, still looking around, in desperate attempt to find… well, anything at all. "What in the world happened?!"
"Is there anyone here?!" She screamed desperately, "Anyone?!" Complete desperation – the best and only word to describe Wendy's feelings right now. Her entire world just… vanished? She fell on knees and looked at her own trembling hands, "But why…? Why am I the only one here? If the city and the guild are all gone… why I'm the only one who's still here…?" She cried quietly.
But then, when Wendy was just about to hit the bottom of despair… "Wendy! Is that you?!" A loud and clear, female's voice called for skymaiden from afar.
"Ah…!" Wendy yelped. Was that a sound hallucination? If so, it's gonna be too cruel… "Anyone there?!" She called.
In response, two shadows (well, three, actually) appeared in front of her, as if from nowhere. "Thank the skies, a witness!" Natsu sighed in relief as he jumped down from his sword's blade and approached Wendy. Sin put Erza on the ground right beside the skymaiden.
Wendy almost bursted into tears due to great relief, 'I'm not the only one left behind!'
"Aside from a few scratches, she seems unharmed," Erza reported as she examined Wendy.
"Natsu-san! Erza-san!" Wendy exclaimed, "This is… the guild!"
"Yes, we saw it. We've came out of our house just when that light vortex was in full swing, but everything stopped to abruptly, so we don't really understand what happened," Sin explained.
"A hole suddenly opened in the sky and it sucked in the guild, the town, and all people!" Wendy described the recent events. "And I thought I was the only one left behind!"
Natsu looked right above himself. "There are traces of dimensional magic in the sky," He noted. "Probably some kind of transportation magic… actually, it seems similar to the technique we're using to come in and out of my Sphere… This one is much more crude, of course…" God of ruin thought aloud.
"You think someone kidnapped the entire town?" Sin wondered. "Who could've done so? And what for? Are they going to ask for a ransom?"
"No way I'm going to pay!" Natsu immediately declared.
"Enough if your insane theories!" Erza shushed at her husband and his familiar.
"Natsu-san, Erza-san! You also were unaffected by the vortex?" Wendy asked for confirmation. "Maybe… Maybe only Slayers were unaffected?!" She made a guess.
But before Natsu or anyone else could respond, Carla's voice sounded from the cloud of white dust, "That's right." In the next moment, a winged white cat appeared from the dust.
"Carla! Thank goodness! You're all right!" Wendy exclaimed in relief as she ran closer to her partner.
"I suppose," White cat replied. "It looks like your unique Dragon Slayer magic power proved helpful. And I'm at least glad that you guys are here," She looked towards Natsu, Erza and Sin.
"You have something to say about what happened here?" Natsu inquired, looking at white kitty.
"The town is gone," Carla pronounced, "More precisely, the Anima sucked them out of existence." She seemed pretty calm, considering the circumstances, by the way.
"Anima?" Erza asked.
"That hole in the sky," She-cat explained, "It's a gate to Edolas… there's another world on the other side of this hole."
"Another world?" Sin asked skeptically. That was quite a claim…
"Edolas?!" Wendy exclaimed, unlike boney creature, she seemed impressed. "Wait, Carla, why weren't you affected by the maelstrom?!" Skymaiden asked.
"Ugh…" She grunted, "…you see… I'm from that other world of Edolas." Well, that statement earned Carla some attention. Though, both Natsu and Sin were looking at her with skepticism.
"What are you saying, Carla?!" Wendy asked with widened eyes.
After about a ten seconds long silence, Carla spoke out, "I'm saying that this town vanished… all because of me."
"I see," Natsu said with sigh. "I'm sorry, but if we'll continue like this, that's going to take a lot of time, and time is a luxury that we don't have," He pronounced, looking at Magna Ruina's blade. In the next moment, Natsu's eyes flashed, and that light reflected from the sword's blade, right into Wendy and Carla's eyes. Both of them immediately froze like paralyzed, Carla was still floating in midair.
"Sleep," Natsu ordered to Wendy. Skymaiden immediately lost consciousness and fell on the ground – she couldn't resist Natsu's blood order, amplified using Magna Ruina.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Erza asked with narrowed eyes.
"I have no time to wade through the jungle of her consciousness," Natsu pointed at Carla, "But I doubt that Wendy would indifferently look at her partner being questioned under hypnosis. Besides, wherever we're going – I have no intention to take these children with us, and this is a best way to avoid hysterical demands," God of ruin explained his actions. No doubts – since it's about saving the guild – Wendy would've insisted on participation in this mission, and dissuading her using just words would've been difficult.
"And here I thought that you actually took liking of that kid…" She-dragon sighed, she seemed displeased with her husband's actions.
"I did," Natsu replied calmly as he summoned a backpack from his magical space (he no longer needed it to store sword, as Magna Ruina don't want to be stored in magical space). There was a number of uncharged lacrimas in this backpack. "She is hard-working and her magic is very useful, but… If our guild, and this entire town, have been kidnapped by another nation or organization, or whatever it is on the other side of this hole – their actions mean that they've declared war on us. This kind and honest child has no place at real war." Natsu turned to his familiar, "What can you say?"
"I believe I can re-open and stabilize this "Anima", using its trace of dimensional magic, the Seal of 24 Dark Suns should do the trick," Familiar replied as he assumed his humanoid form – a tall young man with pale skin. He approached Natsu and took the backpack with lacrima crystals.
Natsu turned to Carla, who was still floating in midair, with completely blank expression on her face. "Speak," He ordered, "Tell me everything you know about that 'Edolas'."
Carla couldn't disobey. "Edolas – a world separate from this one," She began to speak with completely expressionless voice, "Magic is now beginning to be lost there."
"Magic is being lost?" Natsu asked, "Elaborate," He ordered.
"Unlike in this world, magic in Edolas is finite," Winged cat replied, "With continued use, it will eventually disappear from the world."
"I see," Natsu just nodded, "Please, continue."
"In order to preserve the magic power that's dried up, the king of Edolas developed a spell to absorb magic power from another world – this world. The super-subspace spell Anima – that hole that opened in the sky," Carla obediently continued her tale. "When project began six years ago, they deployed Animas all throughout this world, yet they were unable to achieve results they hoped for. Someone had been going around, closing the Animas."
"Any ideas who that might be?" Natsu inquired, "Ware they acting on our side or on theirs?"
"I do not know," Carla replied blankly. She had suspicions about Mystogan, but blood order doesn't allow its victims to voice their speculations as facts.
Natsu sighed in disappointment. "You think there can be a fifth column on the other side?" Erza wondered.
"I guess we'll have to learn it ourselves," Natsu shook his head. "Tell me the rest you know," He addressed Carla, "Why this time this 'Anima' worked?"
"This time Anima was too large. With no one able to stop it, it absorbed the entire town. They cannot observe target directly, but they can target places with high concentration of magic," Carla reported.
"Understood," Natsu pronounced before turning to his wife. "Fairy Tail is a large guild, besides, magic is pretty active in Magnolia's vicinity, thanks to entrance to my SIR being nearby," He thought aloud.
"It's not our fault!" Erza declared, "It's those selfish bastards who tried to steal our magic!"
"I know," Natsu agreed, "And they'll pay for it." He again turned to Carla, "You said it's your fault, why?"
"It is my fault in an indirect sense," She replied, still with completely emotionless voice. "We were given a different mission by the Edolas kingdom and sent into this world," She explained.
"Who gave you a mission?" Natsu inquired.
"I don't know," Carla replied. "I've never been to Edolas myself. I was born and raised in this world. But we were imprinted with the knowledge of Edolas and our mission so we should've known about it all from the moment we were born."
"We?" Natsu asked.
"Hundreds of the likes of me have been sent to this world," She replied.
"I see, so they aren't this world's natives," Erza nodded.
"Does that mean that Haru's cat also involved?" Natsu asked, though his question wasn't addressed to anyone as Carla never met Happy. He turned to winged cat, "You said that you all have different missions – which one is yours?"
"To find and kill Dragon Slayers," Carla reported.
"Hah?!" Erza exclaimed in surprise.
Natsu, on the other hand, just slightly shook his head before asking, "And why haven't you completed it?"
"I won't let anyone hurt Wendy, I'm not a puppet," White kitty answered.
"What a proud cat," Sin snorted as he approached the others. "Formation is ready," He reported.
"Very good," Natsu nodded. "Sleep," He ordered as he turned to Carla. Her wings immediately disappeared and she fell on the ground, right next to Wendy. "Activate it," God of ruin nodded to his familiar.
Sin nodded as he grabbed a large uncharged lacrima crystal. He entered in center of formation he just placed around, and put a crystal on the ground. Then he sat in front of the crystal, and holding his arms above it, made several hand seals in rapid succession. The 24 smaller crystals, which Sin placed on the ground earlier, each shot one thin ray of light to the sky. Those rays of light were like fishing lines, and each one hooked on Anima's vestiges. Then, smaller crystals began to shoot rays of light toward other crystals, linking them all together, and to the large crystal. Slowly, formation began to shrink, as small fishing line-like rays of light began to twist and intertwine. Within a minute, lightshow has ended, as Sin was holding a half-transparent sphere, about two feet in diameter, which was floating an inch above his palm. Inside of a sphere, a solar-system like construction was glowing mysteriously, it seemed like eight planets, with three moons each, were slowly rotating around one star. A glowing chain was connecting this sphere with vestiges of the Anima. Heavy clouds once again began to swirl in the sky, making a maelstrom with dark epicenter.
"Beautiful…" Erza whispered as she was looking at the mysterious sphere in Sin's arms.
"Thanks," Sin nodded before turning to Natsu, "We're back in business."
"Nice," Natsu approved. "How far this keystone can be moved?" He wondered.
"About three miles," Sin shrugged.
"Excellent," Natsu smiled, "Let's get back to our home, with that we can be sure that no one will be able to break this formation," He said, picking up sleeping Wendy. Erza took Carla.
Honestly, it would've been nice if Natsu could question Mystogan, but since he was unconscious and couldn't resist, powerful wind threw him away, and now he was lying around (former) town's outskirts, cowered with white dust. Even Natsu and his team, all of them having enhanced senses, couldn't spot him. Though, the loss is not great…
March 6, X785, 13:30, Natsu's house.
"What do you think? About her story," Erza asked Natsu as she nodded towards Carla. Wendy now was sleeping in one of the guest rooms, but just to be safe, Carla was in another room – Natsu actually wasn't sure about her sanity. All those 'imprinted knowledge' and strange mission of hers may be just a figment of her wicked imagination, though, he couldn't deny that this 'Anima' do lead to somewhere.
"I don't know," Natsu admitted. "One can't lie while under effect of Blood Order, but if someone believes that something is truth, it doesn't mean that it actually the truth. Her story about another world definitely is some heresy," He stated.
"Even if some inhabitant worlds really do exist somewhere out there, a potential spell needed to breach space-time to cover such a distance should be at least a million times more powerful than that "Anima". Wherever that thing leads – that place isn't far from here, and not outside of Magicscar Triangle," Sin explained. Since he managed to hook and stabilize that "Anima", using relatively simple formation, that spell is large-scale but weak – it worked so well only because Fairy Tail mages were taken completely off-guard.
However, when Sin mentioned Magicscar Triangle, it reminded Erza of something and she looked at Natsu worriedly. He realized what she's thinking about, and shook his head slowly, "No, it doesn't seem likely," He pronounced. Of course Erza thought that this Anima could be somehow connected to Tower of Din.
"This spell was too crude and primitive, and there were no traces of Wicked Weave," Sin noted.
"That "Anima" doesn't seem like something that tower's inhabitants would use. Though, I'm not going to exclude any possibility for now," Natsu noted. "Anyway, further guessing and speculations won't get us anywhere, let's go and see what's on the other side," He decided.
"Agree," Erza nodded and stood up.
Before departing, Natsu left some instructions to his servants – Shinryō no Setsuma. Mirajane and Lucy are on mission now, there's no time to wait for them – who knows what enemy wants to do with kidnapped people. But when they'll come back – they'll easily spot the glowing chain (which is not visible for common people) that links Anima's vestiges to formation. No, of course initially they'll be shocked to see a desolate piece of land instead of a town, but after they'll get a hold on themselves, they'll rush to Natsu's house. Shinryō no Setsuma has been instructed to tell to the two of them everything that Natsu did learn until now, and immediately send them through Anima as reinforcement. Those two are smart girls, they won't get lost.
"Let's go!" Natsu commanded as he jumped on his sword's blade and flew towards the hole in the sky. Sin assumed his little boney creature form, picked up Erza, and followed Natsu.
Aaaand that's it for now, see you soon! Don't forget to review a chapter!