I did it.

My eyes reopened to a sight that could not be found from where I came from. The trees, the air, everything. Everything is so different, so much more full of life. The most noticeable difference is the amount of magic in the air, a stark difference from Edolas.

So this is Earthland, the place where everything started.

"Prince!"

My vision blackened and I stumbled even before I realised I did. A strong pair of furry arms caught me before my face could plant itself onto the ground. No matter where I went, what I did, he had always been my biggest supporter. The owner of this pair of arms had been protecting me ever since we met.

"Lily…"

"You need to rest, Prince. You suffered quite an injury trying to save everyone."

"I'm no longer a Prince." I replied weakly, too tired and exhausted to resist when Lily picked me up like the little child I was when he first met and saved me, resulting in his exile from Extalia.

I had done it. I had really done it.

Edolas can never come into contact with Earthland again. I had reversed the Anima seven years earlier than what was supposed to be, irreversibly changing everyone's fates.

Would it be for the better? I have no idea, but I think this is for the best. Like this, Faust's senseless war campaigns will stop. People will no longer need to be drafted for war when the resource which they are most reliant on to sustain it has disappeared for good. Faust had been disposed of even before I left, a new and better King would rise to take the place and lead Edolas to greater heights. I had made sure of it before I left that world for good.

What Edolas needs is a fresh new start, a start without the shadows of the previous ruling family looming over her.

"How's everyone else?"

"They are all fine. See?" Lily gestured with his head towards where the rest of the exceeds are, already exploring their new home with an eagerness I never saw them display before.

I closed my eyes and let my fatigue take over as I drifted off to sleep. This should be for the better for everyone.

Hopefully, my choice was the correct one.

"Prince, you are not staying?"

I shook my head with a smile on my face.

"You know me, Lily. I never planned to stay in one place for long."

"Then let me-"

"You have your own people to protect now," I reminded him, gesturing to the large settlement behind him that is still under construction. This is the new Extalia that the exceeds had built in Earthland, in a secluded forest away from prying eyes where they can fly freely and be happy.

"Besides, I'm a human. I cannot possibly live among you guys forever, can I?"

I can see how Lily's small frame trembled and shook at my words. I knelt down to his height and gave him a tight hug, to show my appreciation and thanks to the person who had been more of a father to me than that man ever would.

"I'll be fine, Lily. I promise I'll come back and visit whenever I can."

"Stay safe, Prince."

"I told you, I'm no longer a prince. My name now is Mystogan." I reminded Lily once again with a smile before standing up straight once more. "I'll be going now. See you soon, Lily."

I faded from view with the help of my magic staves as I floated to wherever will be the start of my next adventure. There's so many unknowns, so many things to learn and explore. This is truly a world of magic, a world of danger and adventure. Now that I have ended the Edolas arc prematurely even before it could happen, I have nothing weighing down on my shoulders anymore. I am free, and it would be a waste to not fully explore this world with my newfound freedom.

It's time to go on an adventure.

Being reborn as Mystogan isn't all that bad. Good looks, high intellect, natural born magic user. There's nothing else to nitpick about my new identity in a new world.

Roaming around Earthland ever since I arrived in this world and leaving the exceeds have been fun. I met new people, saw new things never thought possible, exchanged pointers with other mages that I came across when it comes to magic, an area of interest which always fascinates me to no end. Everything is good so far.

There are unpleasant things to experience as well. When this once fictional world of magic has been stripped of all the children-friendly filters it is a lot darker than it seems. Earthland is not a safe place. The unbelievably high number of dark guilds and dark mages, the dangerous magical beasts that lurk around the lands, slavers, cursed items and areas that nobody ever dared to cross, people dying everyday from unnatural causes that nobody really bat an eye when they heard that another village had been burnt down again or when somebody they knew hadn't turned up in weeks. Death is just that common an occurrence in Earthland and there is nothing anyone can do to change it.

This is the new world that I had chosen to live in. This is how things work in Earthland.

I know that my Earthland counterpart is still around somewhere. Thus, I had chosen to do what canon Mystogan did. I adopted the same name of Mystogan and even somehow found the exact same attire that Mystogan is known to don, covering my face and figure from view. I am now a wandering mage that goes by the alias of Mystogan, that is all I am and I'm happy with that.

This second life of mine is turning out to be a very interesting one.

Unlike those born in Earthland, I cannot mold magic with my body. I can sense magic, but magic is not able to integrate with my body and create a magic container, because ultimately I am from Edolas. That does not make me any less capable as a mage because my skills with my magic tools is enough for me to steamroll past any obstacles I might face. Even without inborn magic, I am a capable mage in my own right.

I often wondered what I should do, what my future should be. Do I want to follow canon Mystogan's footsteps and join Fairy Tail? For what reason would I join that guild for? Edolas is gone, so technically there's no need for 'Mystogan' to be there any more. Do I want to meet the main cast? Do I want to interfere with their lives? Should I interfere with their lives with my mere presence? Who am I to do that without their consent? Just because I have foreknowledge doesn't give me the right to do so. I am not that arrogant to think that I can decide how their lives should be simply because I had read about their futures from a book.

But does that mean that I should keep my distance away from them? I have no clue. If I ever want to be recognised as a full-fledged mage in Earthland then I would need to join a guild, that is the law written into Fiore's constitution. Being an independent mage would restrict me from a lot of things and benefits that a legal mage would be entitled to. Do I need the affiliation that comes from being associated with the Magic Council? At this point, I don't know, but I do know that not many mages lasted out there as independent mages for very long. Very often, they all ended up joining a guild somehow because it is extremely difficult to source for jobs as a freelancer. Being part of a guild would make looking for job requests a lot easier.

In that case, should I just join another guild that is not Fairy Tail? There's only so many notable guilds being introduced in canon that are close to Fairy Tail's level. Lamia Scale would be my preferred non-Fairy Tail choice but does joining a guild really interest me?

No, not really.

I focused my attention back to the chicken that I am grilling over an open fire. It's night. I'm camping out in the woods as per usual with the starry sky as my blanket and the night breeze as my companion. Being free to do whatever I want at my own pace is surprisingly relaxing, but I do find myself craving for someone to talk to.

Maybe I really should join a guild, just one that isn't Fairy Tail.

A loud rustling could be heard from the dense bush in front of me and my hand silently went to reach for one of my magic staves in response. Anything could be lurking out here in the dark of the night. Maybe the smell of grilled chicken had lured a beast here.

I wasn't expecting a little girl to pop out of there. She had practically stumbled out of there, tripped over her feet with a loud and audible 'eep!' that caused her to plant her face onto her floor, before lifting her head up to meet my shocked gaze.

"U-U-Um…"

Little girl, dark blue hair, brown eyes. There's only one person I can think of that fits the description.

Some things are just meant to be, huh?