Chapter 72: The Timeline That Wasn't: Blindsided

It had been a couple weeks since Fairy Tail had arrived. As they had no clues how to find Dipper, Stan was making all of them to do jobs around the shack, whether it was taking jobs around the Shack (working in the shop, acting as security, acting as Stan's assistant, helping Soos or other jobs), cleaning up the house and doing chores or staying far away from the house during working hours (Gildarts only) things had settled down.

A somewhat major thing that happened was telling everyone's Jellal's identity. Though whenever he could Jellal stayed away from Erza.

A really major thing happened a few days after they arrived was Stan offering Laxus to act as an agent for him like he did for Erza back in the day, Laxus realized he had nothing better to do, so he took it.

And one more major thing was Mavis popping in to check on things (like she did in the main timeline) and was shocked about Dipper's disappearance, which she only spoke to Makarov about…

"So you knew about them?" asked Makarov as they spoke on the porch.

"Yes. I checked on Erza if I could." Said Mavis.

I see…" said Makarov.

"I had met up with Mabel accidently." Said Mavis, "I had told her about the time difference."

"So what is the difference?" asked Makarov.

"45 times faster." Said Mavis.

"That sounds about right." Said Makarov, "So how did you meet Mabel exactly?"

"Oh she had an our of body experience due to expired candy, her magic and the unstable magic on Tenrou." Explained Mavis.

Markarov stared at her.

"I am not making that up." Sighed Mavis.

"SO… do you know where Dipper is?" asked Makarov.

"No…" sad Mavis, "I can't sense his magic at all. It's as if he vanished off the face of the earth… but something tells me he's not dead."

"I hope that feeling is right." Said Makarov.

"Erza has been through so much… and then this happens." Said Mavis.

Both of them sighed.

Sometime later, Juvia and Cana had been chosen that day to go grocery shopping.

"Why couldn't it be Gray with me?" cried Juvia.

"Because Gray's doing his "Man who's unable to wear clothes" shtick today." Said Cana with a shrug.

Back at the Mystery Shack.

"I now present you with the man who can't keep his clothes on." Said Stan.

Gray was fully dressed and glaring at Stan.

"I can keep my clothes on." Said Gray.

"Then why are you stripped as speak?" asked Stan.

"You have got to be kidding me!" yelled Gray.

A few woman took out money.

"Please don't stuff cash into his underwear." Said Stan, "It's the one time I agree with the complaints my employees give."

Back with Juvia and Cana.

"He drew the short straw today." Said Cana.

Erza sighed and agreed that there should be a system who should be an attraction and they agreed on the "short straw" everyday someone would pick a straw (and they would only do it once a week so it constantly changed).

That was when suddenly a Leprecorn showed up.

"Top o the morning ladies." Said the Leprecorn with an Irish accent.

The two looked at each other and decided to bed ignore the strange creature.

"What is that thing?" asked Juvia in a low voice so that it wouldn't hear them about talking about it.

"I don't know, but I think I need a drink, let's go get our drinks." Said Cana.

"We're supposed to be buying groceries." Deadpanned Juvia.

However they didn't notice that a man in a pink shirt had saw them interact with the Leprecorn.

"I just saw two women see something." He said as he called someone.

"We will make sure that they unsee it." Said the person on the other end.

As they continued to the grocery store, Juvia realized something.

"Wait… neither one of are over 21, how are we going to buy alcohol?" asked Juvia.

"Oh right you don't know, Stan already covered it." Said Cana taking out a fake ID.

"Seriously?" asked Juvia.

"Yep. This country might be strict, but I have ways around it." Said Cana with a smirk.

That was when bags were tossed over both their heads.

However Juvia was able to get the bag off her head by turning into water and the bag phased through her.

"What!" yelled one of the people trying to kidnap her which were the Society of the Blind Eye.

Cana managed to grab one of her card and used it to shock who was holding her.

She got the bag off of her head.

The members surrounded both and her Juvia and the two looked at them.

"Hey! Why did you try to kidnap us!" yelled Cana.

None of the members answered them, just surprised that they were able to fight them off.

"You made a mistake trying to kidnap us." Said Juvia as she summoned water to blast the members of the Society of the Blind Eye.

Cana used a wind card to blow a couple of them away.

Including one that got stuck in a nearby tree.

"You… you have strange abilities?" asked one of them.

"You just noticed now?" asked Cana razing an eyebrow at them.

The Society Members all stared at her.

"Retreat!" yelled one of them.

They all started to run away.

"Wait for me!" cried the one in the tree.

He ripped off part of his robe from the tree leaving a piece behind.

When they were all gone.

"Well that happened…" said Cana.

"Yes… but I wonder." Said Juvia.

"What is it?" asked Cana.

"We were able to take him on but what if they were up against a 12 years with only telekinesis…" said Juvia.

"you don't think…" said Cana.

"It's entirely possible." Said Juvia.

"But how would we find them?" asked Cana.

That was when the piece of the robe fell out of the tree.

Both of them smirked, Cana picked up the piece and they headed back to the Mystery Shack.

They made it to the gift shop where Wendy and Lisanna were manning the counter and Evergreen was forced to clean up.

"Hey do you know where Erza is?" asked Cana.

"Weren't you two supposed to come back with groceries." Said Evergreen.

"Hey this is more important." Said Cana.

"We might have found a lead on Dipper's whereabouts." Said Juvia.

"What, really?" asked Wendy perking up.

"I'll go get her." Said Lisanna.

"We were almost kidnapped by men in robes." Said Juvia.

"And thankfully one of them left a piece of their robe behind." Said Cana taking it out.

"Hopefully they're know where Dipper is." Said Wendy.

Wendy of course was hit hard, after all she was one of the last people to see him on the tunnel of love and corndogs.

"What happened?" asked Erza as she entered the gift shop.

The two told her what happened.

Erza didn't know how to react. Sassily since Cana gave her the piece of the robe.

"Thank you." Said Erza who went to find Natsu.

"Wait." Said Cana.

"We're coming too." Said Juvia.

Erza was going to say something, but understood the reason.

They were almost kidnapped after all.

They found Natsu who was working as a security guard that day.

"What seriously?" asked Natsu.

Erza nodded.

Natsu got a sniff of it.

"All right! Let's go look for these guys." Said Natsu.

"You're seriously leaving?" asked Stan catching him leaving.

"Possible lead on Dipper." Said Natsu with a big grin.

"Okay never mind." Said Stan, "Take Gray if you have to, I think I should retire that exhibit."

"Stop putting money there!" they heard Gray yell.

"Why that…" said Juvia becoming angry.

One of the reasons why Stan didn't allow money there was that Juvia got angry with the women who did it.

Along with other reasons…

They also brought along Lucy and Happy, after all if Natsu and Gray were tagging along on this, it better be a true reunion of the strongest team.

"The museum?" asked Lucy, "Are you sure they're here?"

"Oh yeah." Said Natsu.

Erza looked sadly at the museum.

"Are you okay?" asked Lucy.

"Yeah it's just that one of the last thing I did with Dipper and Mabel before this happen was here." Said Erza.

"You're going to have to tell us later." Said Natsu.

"It is an… interesting story." Said Erza.

None of them knew how to react to that story, as they could tell it was going to be a weird one… granted two of them ran into a Leprecorn earlier, which was saying something.

They broke into the museum which was closed for some reason. Thanks to Natsu nose the trail lead them to a room filled with eyes.

"Yeah, this room isn't creepy." Lucy said sarcastically.

"Are you sure this room is where the trail ends?" asked Gray.

"I'm sure." Said Natsu.

"Well maybe your nose is busted." Said Gray.

"What's that supposed to mean!" yelled Natsu.

Erza glared at them.

"Oh we're not arguing!" said Gray pancaking.

"Aye!" said Natsu.

"Hey…" said Juvia, "Doesn't this room seem strange."

"You mean beyond the creepy eyes?" asked Cana.

They noticed the eyes all point to one spot.

Natsu pressed the eye on the wall which was the button.

"All right!" cheered Natsu.

They headed down stairs to find the Society of the Blind Eye hold a meeting.

"All right, we will discus the two women we failed to capture today." Said Blind Ivan.

"Wait before we discus it, can I get a new robe since my old ripped." Said the member with the ripped robe.

"Very well." Sighed Blind Ivan.

The member removed his robe. Revealing it was the farmer. Making all of the other members groan.

"Seriously!" yelled one member.

"Yes, I wear nothing under my robe." Said the farmer.

"Permission to erase our memories of that." Said one of the other members.

"After the meeting." Sighed Blind Ivan.

The farmer guy had a new robe and they talked about Cana and Juvia.

"The two women we tried to capture today had strange abilities." Said one of the members.

"I am well aware of that." Said Blind Ivan, "I believe we place them with Erza and Laxus as untouchables."

"What are you sure?" asked a member.

"You weren't there! One of them turned into water and the other blew him into a tree." Said one of the members that tried to kidnap Cana and Juvia.

"Yes… we will never erase their memories." Said Blind Ivan.

"Erase their memories?" asked happy from their hiding sport.

Erza glared at them.

"Looks like it's time." Said Natsu.

"Remember they're pretty weak so go easy on them." Said Cana.

The others nodded.

Erza requiped into her Heart Kreuz Armor. And they all left the doorway interrupting the meeting.

"What the!" yelled one of the members.

"How did you find us." Said Blind Ivan.

"He has good nose." Said Cana motioning over to Natsu.

"You're the ones behind my son's disappearance! Aren't you!" yelled Erza.

"What! No!" said Blind Ivan.

"Don't lie to me!" yelled Erza running to punch him.

However one of the bigger members blocked Erza's attack.

The other members decided to defend themselves, despite the fact that it wouldn't do much.

"Ice Make Floor!" called out Gray causing them to slip.

"Open Gate of the Ram! Aries!" called out of Lucy summoning Aries.

Aries of course used her wool on them distracting the members.

Natsu punched a couple of them. Sending them to the ground.

"Run away!" yelled some of the ones that tried to capture Juvia and Cana.

However they were suddenly captured in bubbles.

"Don't worry those bubbles have air, so you can breathe." Said Juvia.

Cana zapped a few of the members.

Happy even tackled a member sending him to the ground.

Said member was Toby so… not much to say about that one.

Erza meanwhile requiped a spear and used the blunt area to knock out the large member in front of her.

She pointed the spear at Blind Ivan.

"I swear I don't know where your son is." Said Blind Ivan.

Erza put her spear away and punched Blind Ivan.

They decided to tie everyone up and were shocked to discover it was various people from around town.

Erza was shocked that the Realtor.

"Look I swear! We have nothing to with your son's disappearance." Said Blind Ivan.

"Then why did you try to kidnap us?" asked Cana.

"Fine I minds as well tell you the truth." Said Blind Ivan.

He began to tell them all about the Society of the Blind Eye. And how they're goal was to give Peace of Mind to the Town and their methods.

"That's crap and you know it!" yelled Natsu.

"What?" asked Blind Ivan.

"If you erase the memories forcibly how are they able to defend themselves?" asked Gray.

"There's very few defenses." Said Blind Ivan, "In fact it ties into why we were trying to find Dipper."

"You were trying to help." Said Erza confused.

"15 years ago someone appeared, though supernatural, was able to fight against the things that went bump in the night. She became this towns Guardian Angel… but it only lasted two years as this person retired to live a quiet married life. But they then returned…" said Blind Ivan, "with children that had the same ability."

"Wait…" said Erza.

"That's right, the Society declared you untouchable." Said Blind Ivan.

"Of course then Dipper disappeared and you became depressed…" said Bud.

"We wanted to find him so you could go back to fighting." Said Blind Ivan.

"Ahem…" said the realtor.

"One of us actually wanted to help you and not for the mission." Said Blind Ivan.

"Really?" asked Erza.

"When I comforted you after telling me that you were no longer looking for a house a real. It was in the top five of the most heartbreaking things I've had to deal with…" said the realtor.

"Only top five?" asked Happy.

"Finding a home for a cancer ridden child with dad who died in war trumps that." Said the realtor, "But still I could see how much you love your children and how it wasn't the right time to find a house… I genuinely want to see you reunited with your son."

"Thank you." Said Erza, "But still…"

"Still what?" asked Blind Ivan.

"You shouldn't be going around town and erasing people's memories." Said Erza.

"As I said we give them Peace of Mind… we would have kidnapped your daughter. But we knew it would be too obvious." Said Blind Ivan, "Oh since you know about us how about we erase her memory of that day. This way you have one of your children back…"

Erza glared at him very harshly.

And punched him hard that he was sent flying into the wall which made an impact crater.

"I would never mess with my daughters mind like that!" yelled Erza.

"My spine…" cried Blind Ivan.

Everyone just kept their mouths shut not wanting to get attacked.

She glared at them.

"How many of these memory guns do you have?" asked Erza.

"Just a few." They said.

"Where are they?" asked Erza glaring at them.

After being told where they were the group took all of them.

"You don't know how to build them do you?" asked Cana.

They all made the avoid the topic noise.

"Stupid side effects." Said one of the members.

"What do we do with them?" asked Gray.

"How about we tie all but the leader to a pillar and ask gramps what do with them." Said Natsu.

"That's probably for the best." Muttered Erza.

And so they tied them to a pillar expect for Blind Ivan who laid on the ground in pain.

"You're seriously just leaving us here!" yelled one of the members they didn't knew the name of or their job.

The group all left without saying a word.

"You know… if Ivan didn't offer to erase Mabel's memories she probably wouldn't have been so mad." Said the realtor.

The others agreed with her.

"I am in tremendous pain right now!" scrammed Blind Ivan.

"It's your fault for pissing her off!" yelled the bouncer.

They left the museum.

Natsu touched Erza's shoulder.

"Hey…" he said, "We'll find Dipper don't worry."

"I know…" said Erza who was clearly trying to cry.

"Sorry it was all for nothing." Sighed Juvia.

"It's okay." Said Erza, "They needed to be taken down anyways."

"I guess some good came out of it." Said Cana.

"Let's go home." Said sighed Erza.

As they headed to the Mystery Shack, Happy realized this…

"Had anyone even done grocery shopping?"

They all froze, realizing that no one else was assigned that chore.

Either way still no sign of Dipper… but of course knowing the truth been able to find him anyways…

Next Time: Everyone's getting tied of Jellal avoiding Erza whenever he can. And they plan to do something. Meanwhile Carla gets the feeling that something about any of this... wasn't supposed to happen... and she ravels this to Marvelous and Gideon. What will happen? Find out next time.