Within a long tunnel passage under the mountain of the Earth Island, Erza and the others are heading their way to the Emperor Island where Ikaruga and Haruka are situated at and possibly Natsu too.
Erza, Gray, Lucy, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla are riding on a seesaw rail cart with Mira, Elfman, Lisanna, and Cana riding their own behind. The group finding the seesaw rail carts and used them as mode of transportation, seeing that the distance between the earth island and Emperor Island is quite far to reach on foot.
"just how long till we get to the Emperor island?" asked Gray while pushing the seesaw up and down to make the cart move.
"judging by the map, I would say another kilometer" said Erza, holding the scroll map in hand. "we should be reaching the end of the rails very soon"
"Lingyue has some old fashioned way of transportation between islands, huh?" said Lucy, noticing how some transportation that she seen around Daichi's palace and town are all old horsepower transportation, no magic of the sort. "do they never use magic or something?"
"no way, you've seen how that monk used the ground, right? If that wasn't magic, I don't know what that was" said Charla, reminding the group of how Daichi took out the Genju attack at the village from before.
"him and the other 8 Generals all seem to have elemental magic abilities" said Erza, remembering how Gojin, Daichi, Kazane, and Ayame's ability when the four attacked the guild and the members inside. "but I don't see the same with the villagers or the townsfolk"
"Juvia heard from Daichi-san that people in Lingyue doesn't never use magic, they just rarely use it for their daily lives" said Juvia, the rain mage having had a short conversation with the monk before they left his establishment. "Juvia believes that the people of Lingyue are people who hold close their ancient traditions"
"they should really let go of some of their old traditions," said Gray, looking rather tired from pushing the seesaw lever up and down "we had magic imbued rail carts than doing this"
"I see a light at the end" said Wendy while pointing forward as everyone turns and sees the light at the end of the road. "we're reaching the end"
The rail carts keep on rolling on the train rails as everyone went through the end of the rails and find themselves being shined by the bright light of the sun.
"so bright!" said Lucy as everyone winced with their eyes closing.
After a minute or so, everyone slowly opened their eyes and they were welcomed with the sight of a grand and majestic city which is surrounded by a pure white wall, inside the city are various amounts of houses, shops, food stalls, where many citizens of the city are walking around doing their regular activities.
"it's so big!" said Lucy in surprise.
"this is the Emperor island?" said Wendy with wide eyes.
"it's so much bigger than the Edolas Kingdom" said Charla remembering how big the Kingdom of Edolas was, but it pales in comparison with the city of Lingyue on the Emperor Island.
Within the city itself, Erza and the others are now walking on the street, passing by the people while keeping a very low profile not to get suspicions from the soldiers that are positioned at many places in the city.
"this city kinda reminds me of Magnolia" whispered Lucy as Erza nodded, spotting the similarity of liveliness in the city.
"I don't know about you guys, but I think we are already getting some suspicions by the people" said Gray as there were women and men looking at the group, especially to Gray who is naked to his boxers.
"it's because of you!" exclaimed Mira as she soon beat up Gray before everyone started to move away from the watching eyes and to a nearby alley.
Moments later, Erza and the others are hiding in an alley as the soldiers weren't keeping an eye on the place, giving it the perfect chance for the group to discuss.
"this stupid stripper!" said Mira while glaring at Gray who had several red bulges on his head. The Majin beat him up pretty bad for stripping and getting unwanted attention.
"s-sorry.." muttered Gray in pain.
"Erza, I think we should split up" said Lucy to Erza. "this place is so big, it's going to take us hours to find where Ikaruga and Haruka-chan are at"
"I suppose so" said Erza while cupping her chin. "but we have to be careful, we already attracted some attention from before"
Mira glares at Gray who turns white to her furious glare.
"I'd go with Lucy, better to get a map of this place and get some info on the whole Natsu getting a bounty or something" said Cana while placing a hand around Lucy's shoulder before grinning at the blonde mage. "just like at Tenroujima!"
"me, Lisanna, and Elfman will go to the lower areas" said Mira before pointing to a street to the downtown area. "I saw a lot of soldiers just relaxing there, we might get to hear where Ikaruga and Haruka are at or even better on where Natsu might be too"
"then me, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla will get near the Emperor's Palace" said Erza before taking a glance upwards as the largest and tallest palace is at the center of the city and anyone can bet that it is the place where the Emperor might be. "I have a feeling that something is going to happen there"
"what makes you say that?" asked Charla as Erza just pointed a finger out to what seems to be a parade heading to the palace.
Loud musical instruments rang in the city as the citizens got by the sides of the road, to let through a parade. Dozens of dancers, large paper kites, and a large paper dragon are all present in the parade as it seems to be some sort of celebration.
Erza, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla watch the parade from a close sideline as they see the people cheering and screaming in celebration.
"looks like the Festivia Parade back at Magnolia" said Gray, seeing so much happiness in the celebration.
"Juvia wonders what they are celebrating" said Juvia while looking around.
"let's get near the Emperor Palace, we should get a better knowledge on what this celebration is for" said Erza as everyone nodded before they headed to the large majestic palace.
Meanwhile with Lucy and Cana, the two are at a library where there are many scrolls everywhere on the shelves that are on for sale.
"you two young ones aren't looking to the Lunar Festival?" asked the store owner who is an old man with a long white beard.
"w-we're kinda into learning than celebrating" said Cana, making up an excuse to not blow their cover. But seeing how they don't know what the Lunar Festival is, Cana asked the store owner "but I don't see why we have to have so much for a normal festival"
"you young ones are losing sight of the value of the Lunar Festival" said the store owner while scratching his long beard. "the Lunar Festival is only celebrated during the coming of the Lunar Moon that only comes once a year, it is the only time to celebrate the birth of Lingyue"
"the birth of Lingyue?" asked Lucy with a curious look.
"nearly 3-4 centuries ago, it was believed that the 8 islands around the Emperor Island were all connected as a single large continent, but during the Great Diversion that happened a century later, the islands broke off and each were named with the 8 elements of the 8 Generals" explained the store owner before taking out a scroll and placing it on the table, the scroll rolls open and showed Lucy and Cana a map of Lingyue's islands that were once one. "8 generals with 8 islands, that is how Lingyue came to be as now"
"then that means, Lingyue was once a single continent, huh?" said Cana while scratching her chin.
"and the Lunar Festival is just a festival for how it split apart?" added Lucy.
"where have you young ones been? Have you not heard?" asked the store owner with a confused look. "today is the day of the festival and the day we are welcoming back Empress Ikaruga-sama! She has been missing from Lingyue for the past 13 years!"
"missing?" said Lucy and Cana before they look at each other with a confused look.
At the downtown area in an Oden food stall.
Elfman, Mira, and Lisanna were grabbing a bite while also having a conversation with the food stall owner.
"it happened 13 years back! Ikaruga-sama was the late Ryuji-sama's daughter, she's the Empress who would've governed Lingyue's capital while Nagano-sama rules over all Lingyue!" said the food stall owner whose hairstyle is that of an oden. "but she went missing those many years ago. Nagano-sama was so worried for his niece that he ordered all 8 generals to look for her all over Lingyue"
"and they found her?" asked Mira while chewing on a piece of fishcake.
"yeah! They found her on Ishgar!" said the food stall owner while peeling the skin of a radish. "pretty weird place for them to find her if you ask me! Lingyue and Ishgar been at peace since the whole diplomatic treaty been signed, but that treaty is expiring soon and the two continents might be strangers again"
"so, that means there's going to be another treaty, right?" asked Lisanna with a curious look.
"I don't think so!" said the owner as he cut up the peeled radish into a pot of brown soup. "I've lately heard from the soldiers and guards that Lingyue might be going into war with Ishgar very soon!"
"a war? But why a war?!" said Elfman with a surprised look, the big man chewing on some eggs and fishcakes.
"heck if I know! I don't understand how Nagano-sama does things unlike Ryuji-sama!" said the owner as he stirs a ladle in the pot, cooking the cut radishes inside. "Ryuji-sama followed his father's footsteps in establishing peace with any other continent, but this is the first time that an Emperor of Lingyue suggests that Lingyue should go on to war with Ishgar! I don't see what's the point on the whole war! Spilling young and old blood for nothing! This is why Ryuji-sama was an excellent Emperor! unlike Nagano-sama! Boy, I don't get how they were brothers in the first place!"
Mira looks at Elfman and Lisanna as the three siblings have the same thoughts.
Everyone soon heard the sound of a loud gong rang as it gets everyone in the city's attention.
"it's about to start, huh?" said the owner while looking at the large palace.
"what's about to start?" asked Lisanna.
"the Emperor's Lunar Descension" replied the owner while crossing his arms.
Erza, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla are near the Emperor's palace where they are blended into the crowd, all are cheering for the festival while being hold back by the soldiers who are not allowing them to overcrowd.
"it's so much cheering and everything" said Wendy, seeing how excited the citizens of Lingyue are.
"they said it's something about Emperor's Lunar Descension," said Juvia, hearing from a nearby citizen.
"what is that supposed to mean?" asked Gray, not understanding.
"if we watch, I think we can understand" said Erza as the parade is slowly coming to an end.
"hey, guys! Look there!" said Charla while riding on Wendy's head, the Exceed pointing to the end of the parade where there are several Edo period Kago that are being held up by several large men. Each of them brought the Kago to the palace whereas each one opens up to reveal all 8 members of the 8 Generals of Lingyue, each wielding their weapons at their disposal.
"it's Daichi-san" said Juvia, seeing the monk so soon.
"this festival must be important that all 8 Generals of Lingyue are gathered together" said Erza seeing that every member of the 8 Generals walked up to a podium where they sat down on pillow seats provided by servants.
The citizens cheered as a larger white kago that has golden decorations on its frame came in. Erza and the others watch the White Kago coming near the palace as a servant walks to the Kago and slides the door open for Ikaruga to come out, the pink haired woman wearing a large kimono with golden hair decorations on her tied hair.
"it's Ikaruga-san!" said Wendy as the group sees her stepping out of the Kago before she walks to the podium with two soldiers accompanying her.
"if she's there, then where is Haruka?" asked Gray, not seeing the pink haired girl.
"this festival must only be needing her attention, not that of Haruka-chan's" said Juvia as there is no sin of the young girl anywhere.
Everyone watched as Ikaruga walks up to the podium slowly and sat down on another podium with a white pillow seat whereas she sat in a calm posture.
Another gong rang is heard as the large gate of the palace slowly opens to reveal a black and gold Kago that is brought to the front of the podium. Erza and the others look at the Black and Gold Kago as they can tell that the Emperor of Lingyue must be inside of it.
When the Black and Gold Kago stops in front of the Podium, no one could see the Emperor as the man speaks.
"children of Lingyue, it is a great day for our annual lunar festival for today is the day that the lost Empress of Lingyue has return!" said the Emperor in the Kago as the citizens cheered for a moment and then stops for the Emperor who continued. "for 13 years! For 13 long years has our palace lost her to the hands of the most vilest traitor of all Lingyue!"
From the top of the palace, a banner rolls down and it has a black and white painting of Natsu on it.
"the Dragon of the North, Daimou! That man has betrayed us all! He betrayed the trust of my deceased brother, Ryuji! The former Emperor before me!" exclaimed the Emperor as this got the citizens riled up a bit while Erza and the others were shocked and confused to hear the statement. "not only did he betray him, he also slayed him in cold blood!"
The citizens got riled up even more as they started shouting hatred words against Natsu.
"I took upon myself to ensure that the traitor and murderer would be brought to Justice for what he had done! I, Nagano will not rest till the day that traitor's blood is soaked into the land of Lingyue and his body thrown into the pits of the Genju!" shouted the Emperor as the citizens started cheering for him.
"Natsu killed the former emperor!?" said Gray with a surprised look.
"but…that shouldn't…" muttered Wendy, shocked.
Erza keened her eyes as she didn't want to believe such a statement as the truth but rather as a lie.
Ikaruga stayed on her seat as she hears the citizens cheering for the Emperor. Her words are silent before she caught a glimpse of something shining on top of a house's roof. She glanced to the side and her eyes widen to see a cloaked figure standing on a roof with a bow and arrow readied.
Her action caught the attention of Mizuki who is near her, the woman turns and sees the cloaked figure readying to fire the arrow that went flying towards Ikaruga.
"intruder!" Mizuki shouted before she wields her Naginata and swings it upwards, deflecting the arrow.
All members of the 8 Generals stood up from their seats and wielded their weapons while soldiers took away the emperor and Ikaruga to safety.
The citizens have run away in a big panic while Erza and the others stayed in their place; confused.
"an intruder?" said Juvia looking at the coaked figure on the roof nearby.
"could it be Natsu?!" said Gray, seeing the mysterious cloaked figure
Erza looks at the cloaked figure who suddenly bolted away, catching everyone by surprise.
"do not let that intruder escape! It must be Daimou!" exclaimed Gojin to some guards who saluted before chasing after the cloaked figure.
"he came to the parade on his own, that is like him" said Kazane while opening her fan and holds it in front of her mouth.
"but he should know that there is no escaping from us" added Akari as she pulled an arrow on her bow while aiming for the cloaked figure and then fired.
The arrow flew through the air as the arrowhead glows white but missed its target.
"I, Mizuki, Ayame, Akari, and Gojin will go after him" said Raikou as his Tekko Kagi has electrical static covering its claws. "while Daichi, Kazane, and Yamika stays behind to protect the emperor and Ikaruga-sama"
Soon, Raikou and the other four jumped to a house's roof and began chasing after the mysterious cloaked figure while Daichi, Kazane, and Yamika stays behind.
"what should we do, Erza-san?" asked Wendy, not knowing if they should follow and help Natsu or they should stay undercover.
"we have to regroup first, I'm sure that Natsu can outrun them" said Erza as everyone nodded before they all headed off but not without catching the sight of Daichi who looks at the group.
"what are you standing there for, Daichi-san?" said Kazane as she and Yamika are following into the palace where the Emperor and Ikaruga went in with the soldier guards.
"yes, I am following soon" said Daichi before he turns and follows the two. He took a quick glance at Erza and the others who made their way through the panicking crowd. "I wish you luck, people of Fairy Tail"
The cloaked figure jumps up towards a palace's roof before running and then jumping to a house's roof while getting chased by the five members of the 8 Generals behind.
Gojin pulled the chains of his Kusarigama in his right hand before he spins its weight and throws it towards the cloaked figure who took out a dagger and throws it at the chain, deflecting it upwards.
Raikou zooms through while coating in electricity as the Lightning Tiger General got above the cloaked figure and strikes down his claws.
BOOM!
A house exploded in a large explosion of electricity as Raikou stands on the floor of the house, the occupants running away in fright of the sudden abruption.
"sorry sorry" said Raikou before he looks around and sees that the cloaked figure is not with him. "where did he?"
Raikou looks up and sees Gojin and the others running over the large hole, presumably chasing after the cloaked figure. Raikou clicked his tongue before the man jumps and resumed chasing after the cloaked figure with his comrades.
Meanwhile on the street, Erza, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla are also chasing after the cloaked figure who they believed to be Natsu.
"t-they're going too fast!" said Wendy, the young girl runs as fast she could, but the cloaked figure and the 5 members of the 8 generals are running even faster than they were.
"just how fast are these guys!?" said Gray as they were less faster when they attacked their guild.
"keep on running!" said Erza, leading the group. "I know that Natsu is planning on doing something, that's why he's running from them!"
"but to where!?" said Juvia, not understanding on where Natsu is going to.
"I think we'll found out soon!" said Charla, following by flying with her wings.
The cloaked figure jumped down to an alley and continues to run while Gojin and the others chased while still on the roof tiles.
Erza and the others followed behind but the path in front of them instantly had a large hole appearing out of nowhere and they all fell into it.
"Aaaaah!" they all screamed, even Charla who tried to grab Wendy, but they all instantly fell into the hole.
Gojin and the others keep on chasing the cloaked figure, but Ayame took a quick glance behind and sees some dust flying on the road, the hole once being there.
"What was that?" thought Ayame before she focuses back on continuing the chase.
In a dusty cobwebbed filled tunnel, Erza, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Charla fell inside as they landed on top of another.
"ow" grunted everyone as they started to get up.
"where did that hole come from?" asked Gray while looking up as the hole closed up.
"more importantly, where are we?" said Charla as the Exceed looks around and sees the dusty cobwebbed filled tunnel.
"the city's sewer system?" said Juvia, thinking that they were in the sewers.
"but this sewer doesn't have a river filled with the drainage" said Erza as there is only the tunnel filled with dusts and cobwebs everywhere. Erza looks up and then to each side of the tunnel, finding nothing and no one. "must be some hidden ancient passage built over the city."
"let's get to the exit and find a way back to the city" said Gray while dusting off some dust on his yukata. "Natsu might still be chased by those guys, and we got to regroup with Lucy and the others"
"but which way should we go?" asked Wendy as there are two paths and only one might lead to an exit.
Before anyone could speak, everyone hears small footsteps coming from behind as they turn and sees a pair of glowing red eyes.
Thinking that it is an enemy, Erza and the others readied themselves, only to meet with a young girl wearing a yellow kimono and a Japanese fox mask while holding a lantern that has two red holes with a litted candle inside.
"a little girl?" said everyone in unison.
"follow…" whispered the little girl as her small voice echoed in the tunnel before she turns and started walking away.
"uh….." Gray looks at Erza who looks confused as he is. "…what just happened?"
"that little girl….she smells…familiar" said Wendy with a confused look.
"familiar? How?" asked Charla as they had been in Lingyue for a day and don't know anyone on the islands.
"should we follow her?" asked Juvia, suggesting that they follow the little girl.
"I think we should" replied Erza before looking at the little girl who continues walking but soon stopped to look at the group.
"follow…" the girl whispered again as her voice echoed once more.
"but be alert" added Erza as she didn't like how the little girl's small voice echoed in the tunnel.
Everyone soon followed the little girl as they ventured into the dark tunnels to the point that they disappeared into the darkness.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
