Hi there, everyone! One Half's here again!
It seems I've barely made it – I've really been struggling to publish this chapter before the new year – so my readers would've something to read after they get sober! xD
Answers for the reviewers:
beta tester beater, UserIDHere, RKingQway, Cliche Edgy Name: Thanks for being my readers, people, cya in the next chapter!
Rajo: Thanks for the review, mate. Yeah, first two chapter are just the warm-up – I need to explain what's going on.
FanFictionHunter: C'mon man, don't make to dig through the entire story to remember where exactly I mentioned that Natsu's mother attribute was wind/metal, and Natsu inherited only metal from her whilst thunder came from father…
Username6166, shubhankarupadhyay20: In the next part of the story, I think I'm going to stop using romanized versions of spells, leaving only English and Latin versions, as many of my readers see romaji versions as unnecessary element.
I hope I didn't forget anyone, if I did – I'm sorry. Now, let's proceed. Good reading and HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!
Omake – Devoted Servants
…
Name: Lakshmee Surtros
Age: 11 279 years old
Current residence: Arx Tenebris (Realm of Pandemonium, Western Pantheon)
Affiliation: Shinryō no Setsuma
Number: Two
Race: Demon
Subrace: Asmodian
Elemental Attribute: Darkveil (darkness/wood combination)
Power: Ashema Deva (Juhō [Curse]), Thunderglow Sword (Sword Arts Set)
Notable Equipment: Haine et Colère twin katanas, honorbound saint-grade sacred artifact (two counts as one artifact)
Current level of strength: Tier-18+ entry level
Occupation: Personal bodyguard
History: Once a member of Surtros clan mercenaries, her company was wiped out in battle during War of Saints. Was found and saved by Morrigan, to whom Lakshmee has sworn to serve to the death. Been given to Morrigan's son as a birthday gift, to whom she also owns her life now, after an idiotic incident with a certain monster.
Traits: Being the oldest among Shinryō no Setsuma current members, Lakshmee virtually has reached the limit of what her inborn talent would allow her to reach in terms of her strength. Still, she probably may be able to reach Tier-18+ pinnacle level one day, but not via simple training and meditations, she'll need some lucky opportunity. As such, she currently has a lot of free time for her hobbies. Has an onee-san-type personality (likes to play elder sister's role), with which she was irritating Natsu when he was younger.
Name: Reishena Lumeria
Age: 6 327 years old
Current residence: Arx Tenebris (Realm of Pandemonium, Western Pantheon)
Affiliation: Shinryō no Setsuma
Number: Three
Race: Angel (Fallen)
Subrace: Throne (3rd rank angel)
Elemental Attribute: Rainstorm (water/thunder combination)
Power: Fulgens Fulgur (Originally Kihō [Pure Weave], but turned into Juhō [Curse] when Reishena became fallen), Sixteen Nights in Sixteen Hells (Sword Arts Set)
Notable Equipment: Serpens Gladius long Ōdachi, honorbound saint-grade sacred artifact
Current level of strength: Tier-18+ entry level
Occupation: Swordsmanship Instructor
History: Reishena was kicked out of her clan due to internal disputes. Weakened and desperate, she was found by Natsu's father, the Fallen Watcher Ramiel, and later given to Natsu as a birthday present to serve as a personal swordsmanship instructor. Absolutely loyal to Natsu, especially after that same incident with certain monster, as Lakshmee.
Traits: Among Shinryō no Setsuma she is the one with highest potential, she should reach Tier-18+ pinnacle level within next thousand or so years. However, her inborn talent actually allows her to make one more step and reach Tier-19 entry level, but to do so, she'll need to raise her angelic rank and become a Cherubim (2nd rank angel). Even though she's a fallen angel, this fact doesn't affect her ability to evolve, but by itself this is a much-much-easier-said-than-done-type of tasks. She has low self-esteem and has a tendency to use self-deprecating wordings. Natsu was fighting with that trait of hers ever since Reishena was given to him, fruitlessly by now.
Name: Elizasleyn Sjöglen
Age: 716 years old
Current residence: Arx Tenebris (Realm of Pandemonium, Western Pantheon)
Affiliation: Shinryō no Setsuma
Number: Five
Race: Angel
Subrace: Virtue (5th rank angel)
Elemental Attribute: Lensflare (light/void combination)
Power: Angelic Hymn (Kihō [Pure Weave])
Notable Equipment: Liebe Staff magic staff, sun-tier indestructible-grade sacred artifact
Current level of strength: Tier-17+
Occupation: Adjutant/Secretary
History: Was made a scapegoat after a failed mission. Hasn't been kicked out of her clan, but her status has dropped down significantly. Natsu found her jobless and homeless, and recruited as his servant. Since she, theoretically, still has a clan to return to, and she never participated in any of idiotic incidents, she doesn't owe Natsu her life, so her loyalty is not as absolute as of the other two, for now…
Traits: Among Shinryō no Setsuma she's the youngest one and she still has some ways to grow much stronger than she's now. She can learn a staff art set for melee combat, she can help her artifact to evolve to saint-grade tier, and she can reforge her halo to increase her angelic rank and become a Dominion (4th rank angel). All of that will allow her to reach Tier-18 pinnacle level. That, however, probably is her limit – she's not talented enough to become a Throne. Her bad trait is that she's very talkative and loves to talk about numerous trifles, distracting Natsu from his work.
Chapter XXXXII – Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors
…
Edolas, Time +0:00, unexplored territory.
With bright flash of light, Natsu and his team appeared on the other side as they went through the anima. "So much light…" Sin snorted. A lot of light actually is a sign of a crude and ineffective spell, at least when it comes to transportation magic – it means energy is wasted on a lightshow instead of being spent on purpose.
"Ugh…" Natsu grunted as he grabbed his head.
"Agh…" Erza moaned as if she felt a headache.
"Natsu?!" Sin called for his partner. When they've passed through the 'portal', the group appeared about 400 feet above the ground. Aside from a sudden headache, Erza was fine, since she was carried by Sin. But Natsu's sword suddenly lost its ability to levitate (at least it seemed so from aside), and both Magna Ruina and her owner have crashed down on the ground, making a lot of noise as they fell in the middle of the forest.
"Fuck!" Natsu swore off as he slowly stood up. Natsu sword is able to fly thanks to him using an electroweak force field on the sword, and, apparently, something prevented Natsu from continuing to do so.
"Natsu! Are you alright?!" Erza asked worriedly as Sin brought her down and placed on the ground. No, she wasn't worried about his bones or something – fall itself, even from such a height, is nothing for him, aside from humiliation, it's the reason of his fall she was worried about. Has it something to do with the headache she's feeling as well?
"I'll survive," Natsu growled, looking somewhere aside, apparently, in his eyes, number of crimes, committed by this 'world', was quickly piling up.
"What happened?" Sin inquired.
"I guess it's the SWDF," Natsu replied as he again put his palm on forehead, as if he was suffering due to severe headache.
"Oh?" Sin waved his boney claw. SWDF – short for Sigma Waves Defense Field. A well-known, basic defense mechanism, widely used to defend private territories all over the world (excluding Magicscar Triangle, probably). To put it simply – it's a set of magically-induced, low frequency, coherent electromagnetic waves, which can temporarily disrupt spellcasting ability.
For low-rank fighters the SWDF simply disables spellcasting, as it interferes with mahōton [Magic Release] – upper dantian, a point in magic conducting system (MCS) where flow of magic takes shape according to spell's formula. For warriors with stronger genetic potential, it also causes headache, nausea, and other quite displeasing side effects, in addition to disabled spellcasting. Erza already completed her first re-origination, physiologically she's a primordial dragon, Natsu is a member of gods race with very pure bloodline – as such, both are suffering from additional side effects. Sin doesn't feel anything and is able to use his power as usual because he doesn't have a physical brain (and body… and MCS… and he's a freak of nature no matter how you'd look at him…)
This, however, just a temporary measure, SWDF's only purpose is to hold back invaders for a short time, to let the sentinels to alert other defenders. Sooner or later invaders will adapt to this effect, rendering it useless. It usually takes three to five days, but, since the SWDF is a very basic measure, there are lot of ways to shorten that time – there are special talismans, potions and meditation techniques.
Of course, Natsu didn't prepare talismans or potions, but anti-SWDF meditation technique is a basic knowledge. "Sin, will you?" Natsu asked, wincing due to headache, as he handed him a piece of paper and something that looked like a felt-tip pen. Natsu knows that technique, but Erza will need a written instruction. Sin made a grimace, showing his displeasure, but assumed humanoid form and began to write a formula.
"I'll begin immediately, shouldn't take long," Natsu announced as he assumed a pose for meditation, right on the ground, and closed his eyes. They're in the middle of enemy's territory – without magic they're as good as dead. Erza was ready to begin meditation as soon as Sin will finish writing the formula for her.
Edolas, Time +2:10, unexplored territory.
"Whew," Natsu whistled as he opened his eyes and stood up, "Much better." He took his sword, and easily made it to levitate – meditation technique helped him to accelerate his brain's adaptation to this place's SWDF frequency. Sin was standing on guard all this time, but now, as Natsu can use his magic once again, both of them can begin to examine their surroundings.
"I'm unfamiliar with local vegetation," Sin reported. Whilst Natsu and Erza were meditating, Sin was examining local flora. Local flowers and trees were weird, comparing to those growing all over Ishgar, but nothing really interesting (there are much, much more strange plants outside of Magicscar Triangle).
"Natsu' however, seemed more interested in things above him. Here, in Edolas, were multiple flying islands of different sizes, which were floating at different altitudes. But most catchy sight were those celestial bodies, which could be seen all over the lime-colored sky.
While Natsu and Sin were examining their new environment, Erza finished her meditation. She stood up from the ground, raised her right arm and created five small plasma orbs over her fingertips. Plasma seemed stable and controllable. "I'm done," She informed her husband as she came closer to Natsu. "Wow…" She whistled as she took a good look at beautiful skies.
"Yeah," Sin nodded as he came closer to the two, "Too bad that these skies are fake."
"What?" Erza looked at familiar in surprise.
"These planets and moons," Natsu pointed up, at a large gas-giant like planet above and its moons, or other planets, whatever. "They are moving too fast and too chaotically, and they are in too close vicinity to each other. If those would've been real celestial bodies, the tidal forces would tear this entire solar system asunder," He explained.
"Minimum distances and trajectories of celestial bodies are determined by certain laws of nature. This system has no ecliptic plane – that's just chaos out there," Sin added.
"I'll… take your word for it…" Erza sighed as she smiled helplessly. She probably doesn't know what tidal forces and ecliptic plane are…
"A star dragon who don't know how stars work," Sin laughed.
"Fuck you," Erza replied to him with charming smile.
"Sin, stop it," Natsu asked reproachingly, now is not the time for these two to quarrel without reason. He approached his wife. "I'll ask Lakshmee to teach you – astrophysics is one of her hobbies, she's good at it," He said as he placed his arms on his wife's shoulders.
"Mhum," Erza nodded with smile as she embraced her beloved husband. Natsu gently kissed her forehead as he lightly flicked one of Erza's horns. Those neat horns seemed so adorable to him…
"Not now, you two!" Sin snarled, watching two lovers.
"I know!" Natsu snorted, as he worked himself out of Erza's embrace. Sin is right – now's not the time for him and Erza to show their affection to one another.
"So, what do you think," Erza asked, moving her sight from her husband to his familiar and back, "What is this place?"
"Well, considering all the signs…" Sin nodded to Natsu.
"Yes, they are not sure signs, but still, I believe that this is a Sphere of Inverted Reflections," Natsu concluded, "These artificial skies with fake planets, and SWDF…" SWFD needs multiple overlapping to reach necessary density of signal. In open world, those waves will just fly out to open space, but inside of SIR they'll be reflected back many times. One may say that SWFD is an SIR-exclusive thing.
"Sphere of Inverted Reflections?!" Erza's eyes widened in surprise, "You mean, like the place you created for training?"
"Yes, only much bigger," Natsu nodded. "Like the country-sized or even continent-sized SIR that large organization in outside world would have," He added.
"And this SIR is the one definitely lacking maintenance," Sin noted, looking at chaotically placed, formless flying islands. SIR usually is a pinnacle of organization's art of magic, and it can exist almost indefinitely, but only with proper management and maintenance.
"If I'd have to guess," Natsu speculated, "I'd say that this SIR was made before War of Saints, and it belonged to some organization, maybe to Demonic Windstorm Dragon tribe, maybe to some other, but it was cut off from its owners during the Great Schism, just as Magicscar Triangle has been cut off from the rest of the world. And this SIR been existing on its own since then, slowly degrading…"
"Just imagine a large Zoo built on remote island, which was abandoned by its builders for a long time. Different creatures will run away, turning island's ecosystem upside down and making a new one in the end…" Sin drew an analogy.
"This place was abandoned for many thousand years – here could be a real mess…" Natsu shook his head. "And ethernano is scarce here, so that she-cat's story could be true, at least partly," He added.
"Probably SIR's entrance formation degraded too much, hindering the ethernano interchange with outside world," Sin guessed.
"Isn't it good news?" Erza wondered, "If here's no one left to care for this place, that means we shouldn't face too powerful opposition, am I right?"
"Good point," Natsu agreed with his wife.
"Still, let us be careful for now, we should scout around first," Sin suggested.
""Of course,"" Natsu and Erza replied simultaneously, and smiled to each other.
"Charming…" Sin shook his head.
Edolas, Time +2:55, unknown region.
"What a mess…" Natsu shook his head. To keep a low profile, Natsu's team was walking on foot, and as they were walking forth, a purple conifer forest suddenly changed to savannah, which abruptly became a giant mushroom forest two miles further. It seems that initially this SIR was split for distinct regions, but due to lack of maintenance zones began to intertwine in chaotic manner.
"How long this place can hold up until it'll fall apart?" Erza wondered.
"A dozen thousands of years," Sin replied, "Though, life here will become unbearable much earlier, within three or four thousands of years at best," He added.
"Don't worry, my dear," Natsu addressed Erza. "We'll get out of Magicscar triangle long before something bad will happen," He assured his wife. When this SIR collapse, its landmass will crash on real world, either on one of continents, making a huge mess on it, or into the ocean, causing a tidal wave…
"Um…" Erza just nodded, it is hard to say what she actually thinking about.
Edolas, Time +3:30, unknown region.
As they were walking, team was looking for any signs of civilization – roads, cultivated fields, pasture grounds, anything. But until now – they had no luck with that. And then, when Natsu was about to abandon 'low profile policy', take flight and look from above, they've spotted some artificially built structure. That one looked like a giant pumpkin, with a wooden door being cut in, and several glassless windows, being cut out closer to the 'roof'.
"Nentō no Kasumi!" [Mind Haze] Sin used a spell, which made all three of them to glow with dark blue light, just for a few moments before glow has faded. A void-based spell, which, of course, belongs to Kuroi Geijutsu [Black Arts] category, which redirects attention… no, more like reduces the user's ability to gain attention. It makes the spell's user and his allies explicitly 'uninteresting' and 'unremarkable', so that a simple stone or a cactus in desert would look more interesting that user of that spell. That spell is simple and pretty weak – doing something flashy or gaining attention intentionally (like directly addressing someone) will break the spell's effect.
In current circumstances, this spell should suffice – here were no signs of powerful opposition. On the other hand, with scarce ethernano in this world, recovering mana will take more time than usual, so powers should be used rationally.
The team headed towards the weird, pumpkin-like building, walking casually, but just as they've approached, their attention was caught by even more strange sight, that appeared on their left. There was a plant-like building, one that seemed like a huge liana's root. However, most peculiar thing, of course, was a Fairy Tail banner over the entrance (which looked like a common door), and a wooden plaque with Fairy Tail symbol on building's side. Also there was a sign "Fairy Tail", written with deformed, orange letters, right over the door.
Erza closed her eyes, and then looked at the banner again, as if to make sure that she's not seeing things.
"Yes, I see the same thing," Sin confirmed.
"A lot of people inside," Natsu informed as he looked at the building with his glowing eyes, "About half a hundred." Though, none of three could feel presence of anyone powerful. After thinking for a few moments, all three nodded to each other as they decided to look at what's inside.
Edolas, Time +3:45, Fairy Tail (?).
Not making any sudden moves, the team entered the building and began to look around, examining the environment and observing the inhabitants. Sin's spell was working perfectly as no one paid any attention to newcomers, despite their quite flashy looks (especially the red-haired girl wearing silver-colored qipao cheongsam).
On the inside, the guildhall(?) seemed like a bar, about of the same size as Fairy Tail old building's bar. Here was a bar counter made of stone and wood, a number of tables, which were looking like mushrooms (actually, those were real mushrooms), around each table were three or four stools, which looked like huge berries.
"A request board, huh?" Erza noted as she looked at the other side of the building. A plain wooden board was entangled with mycelium-like ornament with several mushrooms. In general, this building seemed like the one you can find in one of those 'elven' kingdoms.
And of course, as Fairy Tail should, this guild (?) was filled with Fairy Tail members. Those people, just as Fairy Tail members should (?) were drinking and making a lot of noise. However…
"Juvia is going on a job now," Announced a girl who stood near the request board. She surely looked like Juvia Lockser, with navy blue eyes and hair, even having the same manner of addressing herself in third person. Though, her outfit seemed nothing like normal Juvia's clothes – that girl looked like a stewardess on some private yacht would look like. Her face's mimics also seemed different.
"Wa… wait, my lovely Juvia!" Someone stuttered, calling for the blue-haired girl with plaintive voice. "I'd love to go with you… If that's okay…" He asked with the same intonation and foolish smile on his face. That guy definitely looked like Gray Fullbuster… with the exception that he was wearing at least five layers of clothes, being put on one over another, including the winter coat, a woolen scarf and woolen mittens.
Stewardess-like Juvia looked at that Gray with deadpan. "You're stifling. How many layers of clothes do you got on?" She asked a bit scornfully. "Give me a call when you're dressed lighter," She waved the guy off and headed towards the building's exit.
"But I… I get cold easily!" He tried to justify himself, but to no avail.
"Ol' Gray is too clingy," Noted a guy, who seemed like Warren Rocko.
"Men in love are always full of devotion," Interjected a man, who looked somehow like Max Alors.
Both guys seemed like those people Erza and others knew, aside from Warren's clothes.
A bit aside, two guys, both having an appearance of street thugs, were scolding a third one, who was crying like a three years old boy. Two thugs were resembling Jet and Droy, members of Team Shadow Gear, whilst the crying one looked somehow similar to Elfman Strauss.
"You're pathetic, Elfman," Jet-like thug stated.
"You screwed up another job?" Droy-like thug asked negligently.
"I'm so ashamed…" Crybaby Elfman-like guy admitted, with tearful eyes.
"Hey, look…" Max-like man noted from aside, "Jet and Droy, candidates for our guild's strongest members, are giving Elfman another talking-to."
"Don't be too hard on him," Warren-like guy nodded towards the three, who looked similar to Jed, Droy and Elfman.
At that moment, a man who looked very similar to Nab, including his clothes, ran by Max and Warren. "A job, a job!" He exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Nab works way too much," Warren-like person smiled.
"For sure," Max-like person agreed.
A few tens of feet away from that scene, another two familiar-looking men were sitting at the table. "Cana-san, won't you join us for a drink?" Asked a man who looked similar to Macao Conbolt, though his clothes seemed as if he's an impoverished writer-loser.
"Please, come sit with us!" Called a man who looked like Wakaba Mine, though he was wearing the anti-smoking club volunteer's t-shirt.
"Oh, how many times must I say it? I'm afraid I'm not at all fond of alcohol," Replied a dark-haired lady who was sitting near the window. Her face was resembling Cana Alberona, but that was the only similarity between this young lady and Fairy Tail's drunkard. This one was wearing aristocratic clothes, radiating ojō-sama's vibes, and speaking in very formal manner (she was referring to herself as 'watakushi').
As she was looking (and hearing) at that scene, Erza closed her ears with her palms, as if to make sure that she's not hearing things. She-dragon felt as if she's losing her sanity...
A bit aside, two lovers were sitting together on one stool, they were resembling Bisca Mulan and Alzack Connell. They were explicitly demonstrating their relationships, but for some reason their dialog looked more like ostentation than some real feelings.
"If I could, I'd barfed," Sin snorted, grimacing, observing the two.
"Seriously, man!"
"Quit crying all the time!"
"But… but…"
Shadowgear-like thugs were still scolding Elfman.
"I love my adorable Juvia!" An overclothed Gray announced all of a sudden.
"Shuddup, Gray! You're stifling!" Yelled a guy who was resembling Reedus Jonah.
"Okay…" Erza shook her head, she couldn't look anymore at what was happening here. "What we're looking at?" She asked her teammates.
"It's like a Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors," Natsu facepalmed.
"Who are all these people?" Sin wondered.
"All the smells I feel here are unfamiliar to me," Erza reported as she sniffed the air.
"Yes, and I don't recognize their souls – whoever these people are – they have nothing to do with our guildmates, aside from some similarities in appearance," Natsu confirmed.
"More importantly, though…" Sin noted thoughtfully.
"Yes, they are like dolls, or rather, mannequins," Natsu nodded as he turned to his wife, "None of them has elemental attribute."
"Not just attribute, these people have no magic conducting system at all," Sin added, "No manapool, no meridians, nothing."
"Just like that guy from our guild – Mysto…gan," Natsu noted.
"Huh?!" Erza abruptly turned to Natsu, "You think that this… another Jellal…" Erza grimaced as she pronounced that name, "He is actually one of these clones, who somehow ended up in our world?!"
Sin blinked, "Clones?" He turned to Natsu, "I thought that, in your couple, inventing insane theories was your role…"
"Sin!" Erza shushed at him, meaning that now isn't the time for his caustic remarks.
"Don't quarrel," Natsu ordered as he grabbed Sin's shoulder with his right arm and Erza's shoulder with his left, to prevent untimely exchange of tart words. "As for your thought – we certainly can't rule out that possibility," God of ruin nodded to his spouse. Whatever that Mystogan is clone or something else – it is possible that he really did come from here.
"Hey, who the hell are you guys?" A somehow familiar voice sounded from behind. Natsu and others slowly turned around, only to see a certain blonde-haired girl, who seemed just like a member of Fairy Tail, who disappeared during Nirvana elimination mission and was replaced with her true self, with drastically different looks. Of course, she was the same mannequin-like being without MCS. "What do you think you're doing hanging around here?!" Lucy-like girl asked with pretty aggressive tone.
Probably, the three of them were making too much of a commotion, or, most likely, Sin spell's effect has ended and the spell wore off, as its caster was too absorbed into observation over this strange place to refresh the spell and prolong its duration. And now it was too late for that – Lucy's loud voice attracted the attention of everyone in the guild.
"Huh? What?!"
"Who are they?!"
"Wait, how long they've been there!?"
Local Fairy Tail's members got startled – there are thee unknown but remarkable-looking people standing in the middle of the guild, and no one paid any attention!?
"Sorry, my bad," Sin apologized for his forgetfulness.
"Haah," Natsu sighed. "Doesn't matter – it would've come down to this anyway," He added. Honestly, Natsu would prefer to observe these people a little longer, but that's not really important.
"Oh, quite a nerve you guys have to ignore me!" Local Lucy exclaimed with the same aggressive tone – she was quite irritated with the fact these three were talking between themselves, pretty much ignoring her.
But then, a Nab-looking guy interjected. "Lucy-san, wait…" He pronounced uncertainly, pointing at Erza "…that girl…"
"Y… yes…" Local Jet also pointed that way "…she surely looks different… comparing to what I remember…"
"But… but…" Local Droy nodded "…isn't she… she's…"
"ERZA KNIGHTWALKER!" All guild let out a terrified scream as they stared at Natsu's spouse.
"Huh? What? Me?" Erza pointed at herself in complete confusion, she couldn't understand why the entire guild suddenly became terrified of her.
Sin, on the other hand, got the idea. "Hah," He laughed, pointing at Erza, "It seems that your local clone is even more oppressive than you are! Ahaha!"
"Sin, let's come out for a moment," Erza addressed the familiar as she placed her arm on his shoulder and smiled charmingly.
"Enough!" Natsu shouted as peal of thunder resounded throughout the building, "Stop making fools of yourselves in front of some local plebeians!"
""Downer!"" Sin and Erza replied simultaneously.
Natsu gave the two of them one last reproaching sight, as it was pretty annoying that those two can team up so fast if it's against him, but didn't say anything – he wasted enough time already. He turned to old-Lucy-like girl, "Okay, first thing first – we are travelers from afar, and, regardless of what you people believe – none of you could've ever seen any of the three of us, anywhere." Natsu looked over the crowd of locals, "As for why we're here – we've came for information, obviously."
"Information?" Lucy asked suspiciously. Natsu's tone was neutral, his words were more or less polite, and his face expression was calm and relatively friendly. But still she was feeling a threat from him, and from those two beside him as well. As such, she decided to cooperate, for now. Making enemies out of some unknown people definitely isn't wise.
"Yes," Sin nodded calmly, "We'd like you to bring us up to speed."
"Let's start with the basics," Natsu begin asking, "Is this the place called Edolas?"
"…Yes…" Lucy nodded slowly, surprised with the strange question, isn't it obvious? "This is the Edolas kingdom."
"And what is this place?" Erza wondered, "Is this some kind of a guild?"
"Yes, this is wizards' guild, Fairy Tail," Replied a girl who was strongly resembling Levy McGarden. Guildmembers were giving strange looks to Natsu's team due to weird questions they were asking, but Natsu remained unperturbed.
"What relationships do you have with the kingdom?" Sin inquired. "Are you a part of its military or political system?"
"Haah?!
"What?!"
"Are you kiddin!?"
Unlike previous questions, this one caused angry screams to sound among the crowd of locals. Natsu looked at Lucy questioningly, asking for some elaboration.
"Where you guys been all this time?!" Blonde girl asked in amazement, "Don't tell me you didn't hear about Wizards Guild Disbandment Decree?!"
"What is that?" Natsu asked, patiently ignoring all of locals' remarks.
"Just as its name suggests," Said a girl who was slightly resembling Wendy Marvel, though this one looked older, she probably was in her early twenties, thus she was taller and more curvaceous. "The king ordered all magic guilds to be abolished. Now there's only one mages' guild in the world – this one. In short – we are the dark guild."
"Wendy!" Levy shushed at blue-haired girl, probably thinking that she said too much, but Natsu wasn't paying attention.
He was thinking over the information he just got. There were no signs that locals are lying. As such – there's a potential setback – if these guys are on the run, it is possible that they don't know of the latest events here. However, it also makes them potentially useful – if they're some sort of resistance, and since Natsu came here to wage war, a fifth column in enemy's ranks certainly may come in handy.
Natsu turned to his teammates – he probably wanted their opinion about how these Edolas version of Fairy Tail should be treated further.
…
Edolas, Time +4:40, Fairy Tail (Edolas).
In the end, after a bit of thinking, Natsu decided to go along the diplomatic route. These people pose little-to-no threat for his team, so potential harm was very little if Natsu's bet won't play. On the other hand, as weak as they are, these people are locals, and they may provide some assistance. Natsu told them the truth about the situation, though, he used simplified definitions – there were no reasons for him to explain the concept of Sphere of Inverted Reflections or other complicated stuff. 'Parallel world' nonsense would do just nicely.
"So, what, you're saying you're from another world called 'Earth Land?' Edo-Max inquired.
"And that you came to this world to save your friends?" Edo-Warren asked.
"And punish the guilty, yes," Natsu confirmed. He and his team now were sitting near the bar counter as all of Edolas Fairy Tail members have gathered around them.
"And there's another Fairy Tail in your world?" Edo-Jet wondered.
"And you are the Earth Land Erza?" Edo-Droy looked at red-haired lady.
"Yes," She nodded in reply.
"That's a pretty tall tale…" Edo-Macao scratched his cheek.
"Still, this Erza really doesn't look like the one we saw," Edo-Wakaba noted, "There are a lot of differences…"
"Your looks also differ from our people," Sin interjected.
"I know it's hard to believe," Erza nodded.
"You can say that again…" Someone said and several guildmates laughed. The atmosphere in guildhall became more relaxed since when the Natsu's team was discovered.
"Probably. And, though we aren't obliged to prove anything, I guess we're fortunate, because there's someone among you people who can confirm our story, am I right?" God of Ruin asked as he looked directly at a certain person, who stood among Edolas Fairy Tail members. "Long time no see, Lisanna-chan…"
"Ah?!" A girl yelped as she suddenly became the center of attention.
Natsu noticed her a few minutes ago, almost at the moment she entered the guildhall. She probably was on mission or something, and when she returned and saw that all of her guildmates have gathered around the bar counter, she of course decided to take a look – what's this all about. Of course – the only person with magic conducting system kinda stands out. Sin also noticed her, but Nutsu just slightly shook his head, meaning that he'll handle it, so Sin only informed Erza, as she couldn't see the elemental attribute directly. Were Natsu and his teammates shocked? Perhaps, but only for a moment. Their world is too complex for them to be startled over something like someone, who's been considered long-dead, appearing alive and well, at quite an unexpected place…
A young girl with short, snow-colored hair and large blue eyes, wearing the lilac-colored dress, now was panicking – she had no idea what to do in this situation. And since Natsu knew that she's never been good at handling critical situations, he decided to handle it for her.
"Lisanna, before you'll say something stupid and try to pretend that you're a local or something – please don't. You're the only one with elemental attribute here, in my eyes you're like a torch in the dark room, so get your sorry ass here already. Don't you want to greet your old friends?" God of ruin asked.
Of course, Lusanna wasn't the only one shocked here.
"Hah!?"
"No way…!?"
"Wait, he means…?!"
"No, that's wrong!"
Edolas Fairy Tail members' thoughts were in complete mess.
"And yet, somehow, the two of you doesn't seem surprised," Sin noted calmly as he looked towards Edolas versions of Elfman and Mirajane. "You knew, aren't you?"
As he said that, a lot of eyes turned to two siblings, including Lisanna.
Edo-Mirajane lowered her head as she smiled sadly, "Yes, we knew almost from the very beginning." Elfman just nodded to confirm.
"Huh?!" Lusanna looked at Edolas versions of her siblings in surprise.
"We knew, but we could never say anything," Edo-Elfman admitted with bitter smile, "We're sorry…"
"You're nice girl, just like the late Lisanna was," Edo-Mira pronounced with trembling voice.
"Mira-nee… Elfman nii-chan…" Lusanna was looking at the two in disbelief.
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap* Sin clapped his illusory palms several times, as if applauding. "What a wonderful, almost symbiotic relationships you people have had – everyone was lying to each other…"
"Doesn't matter," Natsu shook his head before he again turned to Lisanna. "So, Lis, what happened? Your sister, the real one, endured an agonizing pain and shed a million of tears whilst you were fooling around here all these years. Don't you want to explain anything?" He asked.
But, apparently, for Lisanna that was too much – she was overwhelmed with emotions. She turned around and ran towards the plant-like guildhall's door.
"Seriously?" Natsu sighed heavily, though, it seems like he was expecting something like this. He snapped his fingers, and a set of metallic spears broke through the floor and blocked the access to the door.
"Ah?!" Lisanna yelped in fear but before she could do anything, two statues made of dark gray metal, both looking precisely like Earth Land's Mirajane, grabbed panicking girl's arms, and brought her back to Natsu.
All local Fairy Tail members were in awe. "Is this… is this the Earth Land's magic?" Edo-Levy asked with widened eyes.
"No," Sin slightly shook his head, "This is but mere party tricks. The real magic will begin when we'll get our hands on political leaders of this kingdom…"
"Lisanna, don't make me use hypnosis on you," Natsu addressed the girl with a bit tired voice, "Speak."
In a few moments, Lisanna finally realized that resistance is futile, so she began her tale. "Three years ago… when I was severely injured in attempt to stop Elfman nii-chan's rampage…" She said as she was talking about the part when she got knocked out by rampaging Elfman and found herself in Edolas when she woke up.
"You think… she could've been sucked in by one of dormant Animas?" Erza asked addressing her husband and his familiar.
"Seems possible," Sin nodded, "She was severely weakened due to her wound, so even dormant anima was able to affect her."
"Back then, Jane told me that Lisanna's body dissipated and her 'soul' turned into light particles and 'ascended' to the sky," Natsu remembered. "I thought she was hallucinating due to shock, but probably she actually was telling the truth. No wonder your body was never found," He again looked at Lisanna.
"It was a real shock when I awoke in Edolas," Lisanna continued her tale. "I found myself in front of Fairy Tail, this Fairy Tail…" Lisanna remembered how she entered this plant-like guildhall for the first time. "Even though they all seemed a little 'off', and there were a few unfamiliar faces, almost all the people I knew were there – except for yours…" Lisanna smiled sadly.
"By the way, yes," Natsu interrupted her tale as he remembered something, "Is here anyone who looks similar to me? Like my Edolas' counterpart?" He wondered.
All members of Edolas Fairy Tail began to look at one another, but then they all shook their heads.
"I don't know anyone with the appearance at least a bit similar to yours," Edo-Lucy concluded.
"I see," Natsu nodded, "Interesting." If that's so, asking about Sin probably is pointless, God of Ruin turned to Lisanna, "Sorry for interruption, please continue."
"When I came, everyone here thought that I was Edolas' Lisanna…" She tried to continue, but suddenly, several loud cries interrupted her again.
"Wait…!?"
"That means…?!"
"Our Lisanna…!?
"Actually is dead…!?"
Several Edolas Fairy Tail members have realized the harsh truth – if this is not their Lusanna – that means that theirs is truly gone. Some other people were giving Lisanna resentful looks – they thought of her as of a deceiver, and they weren't wrong. Edo-Elfman and Edo-Mira got the same looks, by the way as it appeared that both were constantly lying to the rest of the guild, for several years, together with their false Imōto.
It took a while for things to calm down so Lisanna could continue her story. "Everyone here seemed so happy to see me, and I was so confused, I just didn't find what to say. I couldn't find it in myself to tell them the truth, especially because I wasn't sure about what the truth is," Lisanna admitted as she explained why she initially decided to play along and pretended to be a local Lisanna. "There was a lot of confusion at first, but I told everyone that my memory has been jumbled up. I learned about Edolas bit by bit and did my best to fit in with everyone," She remembered.
"Wait, and everyone believed you, just like that?" Erza seemed surprised.
"No wonder," Natsu shrugged, "Girls in her family always were very good liars." Mirajane also was very good at deceiving others…
Lisanna looked at Natsu angrily, but just for a moment – she actually wasn't in position to argue – metallic statues were still there, holding her on place. "Eventually, I grew used to life in Edolas. More than three years have passed just like that… until now," She concluded her story, seemingly, there were no really remarkable events.
"Why haven't you tried to get back home?" Natsu wondered, "I mean, aside from idiotic thoughts that your departure may make these people cry again, and you don't want it," He added, he knew Lisanna's selfless character pretty well.
"I… I…" Lisanna smiled sadly, "I didn't even know where to start. I actually thought about it – if I'd found the way to move between worlds – I could've told everyone back home that I'm alright and keep everyone here from being sad at the same time…"
…Natsu, Sin and even Erza, all three have facepalmed in perfect sync, but didn't interrupt Lisanna's story…
"…but I didn't know where to start. Just as I've managed to fit in this guild, more or less, Wizards Guilds Disbandment Decree was enacted, and information about magic became really hard to come by…" Blue-eyed girl explained.
"I see," Natsu nodded, "Well, I think I've got the gist of it. Now, let's discuss your actions," He suddenly announced as he stood up from the stool and made a step towards Lisanna. "Just so you'd know – you've never been excluded from Fairy Tail's roster, so, officially, you're still a member of our guild. Me, on the other hand, is an S-class mage, so I have the full right to question guildmembers actions," He explained the current disposition. "But first, you should assume the proper pose for it," Natsu noted as he waved his left arm and two metallic statues forced Lisanna to her knees.
"Ah!?" She cried weakly, unable to resist.
"Hey, wait a minute!"
"What do you think you're doing!"
Edo-Lucy and Edo-Levy tried to interfere, but Sin waved his illusory palm, sending a slight shockwave through the entire building. "Stay away," He demanded, "This is between our guild members, you have neither right nor reason to interfere."
And as Edolas Fairy Tail members were at loss for words, Natsu addressed Lisanna, "It's my duty to talk to screws-up, and this time you've screwed up a whooooole lot. Now, young lady, listen to me…"
For about ten minutes, Lisanna was scolded for being an incompetent mage, for being a coward, for being an incompetent mage, for her reckless actions during incident with Elfman, for being an incompetent mage, for deceiving people without any real reason, and, most importantly, for being an incompetent mage.
During that time, Edolas Fairy Tail members seemed awestruck, partly with Natsu's vocabulary, in particular with diversity of insults that Natsu brought down on Lisanna. They knew that they have to do something, but no one managed to find it in himself to confront Sin. Besides, after truth about Lisanna has been revealed, some people got feelings that she actually deserved a good scolding, because she was deceiving an entire guild for years. In other words, Edolas Fairy Tail were having contradictive feelings about what was happening.
"I wonder… is being an incompetent mage actually a crime in their world?..." Edolas Gray mumbled.
"Dunno…" Edolas Reedus scratched his head.
Finally, when more than ten minutes have passed, and tears again began to swell-up in Lisanna's blue eyes, someone stood up for her.
"Alright, Natsu, that's enough, she's crying again," Erza said as she stepped in between Natsu and Lisanna.
"As you wish," Natsu decided to not argue, as he waved his arm and two metallic Mirajanes disappeared, releasing Lisanna. Erza grabbed the girl by her sides and helped her to get on feet.
"Wow… that Erza… is really different…" Edo-Max exclaimed.
"She's kind," Edo-Warren almost cried, though both of them mistook Erza's sense of justice for kindness.
"I… I'm sorry… Erza-san…" Lisanna apologized, probably for that she actually gave Natsu a real reason to scold her.
"Don't mention it – other guild members already got used to being abused by him after their failures," Erza smiled.
Natsu really wanted to say that she's actually abusing people much more often than he is, and for much lesser failures, but decided to remain silent. In the meantime, Erza helped Lisanna to dust off her clothes. "Wow, Erza-san, you've really changed!" Lisanna even whistled a little. Now, when situation finally calmed down a bit, she finally could take a good look at the only woman in Natsu's team.
But as she-dragon heard that, she looked at blue-eyed girl with evaluating sight, it seemed as if Erza remembered something. "By the way, Lisanna-chan," Erza spoke out, rising her left arm, apparently to demonstrate her wedding ring, "I remember that you and Natsu were close friends, but situation has changed and now Natsu-san is my spouse, so I'd like to ask you to keep your hands away from him, alright?" She-dragon asked as her silver, lotus-like irises darkened and she gave Lisanna so kind, gentle and carefree smile that latter's blood got almost frozen in her veins.
"Heeeee!" Poor girl screamed in horror. And not only she – entire guild got terrified by the intent hidden behind Erza's beautifully false smile.
"No… on the other hand…" Edo-Macao mumbled.
"She's… definitely Erza…" Edo-Wakaba agreed with trembling voice.
"Enough!" Natsu demanded as he grabbed his wife by the collar of her dress and pulled her away from Lisanna. "Sorry about that, Lisanna-chan," Natsu apologized before turning to his wife, "You're really asking for punishment, are you?"
"Yes, I am," Erza replied with passionate voice, "So what?"
And that unexpected exchange completely messed up all thoughts in heads of Edolas Fairy Tail members.
Edolas, Time +5:35, Fairy Tail (Edolas).
After situation inside of Edolas Fairy Tail calmed down a bit, Natsu decided to get back to business. "Now, tell us how to get to the capital of this kingdom," He requested. For some reason, that request caused a ruckus among guildmates.
"What?" Sin asked, wondering what's wrong. "If the king is behind all of this – it is logical to assume that our kidnapped guildmates are kept somewhere around that place. Or, in worst case, there we'll find someone with the information we need," He explained.
"I hate to say this, but it's better if you just forget about them," Edo-Wendy spoke out, "Anyone who defies the king of Edolas is as good as dead. This is how powerful the kingdom is."
"Magic power is finite in this world, there's only so much of it," Edo-Elfman mumbled as he lowered his head. "In other words, it'll run out eventually…"
"King of Edolas was afraid of this and tried to keep all the magic for himself," Overclothed Edo-Gray interjected. "Right, my lovely Juvia?!" He added with unnaturally high-pitched voice as he suddenly leaned to Edo-Juvia, as if attempting a move on her.
Though, the latter only nodded, ignoring Edo-Gray's pathetic attempt to flirt, as she added, "King ordered that all wizards guilds have to be disbanded because of this."
"Everyone resisted at first," Edo-Max said through clenched teeth.
"But the royal army's Magic Warfare Units trounced them all, one after the other…" Edo-Warren added with mournful expression.
"Our guild's the only one left now. And we haven't escaped unscathed, of course," Edo-Jet whimpered, wiping off his tears, as his thug-like demeanor somehow vanished.
"We've lost half of our comrades…" Edo-Droy cried, "Even our master… Darn it!"
"It's hard enough for us just to run away," Edo-Gray said darkly.
"So I'd stay away from the kingdom if I were you, just go back to your home world or whatever," Edo-Juvia concluded.
Natsu was listening to all of that with his left palm covering his face, which many Edolas Fairy Tail mistook for sadness, but actually that was an almost permanent facepalm. When the flow of words finally stopped, Natsu somehow managed to tear off his hand from his face, and make a reply. "My dear Edolas Fairy Tail members, though I'm very sorry about your losses…" That was a pure lie, actually he couldn't care less "…next time, I'd suggest you people to tell this sob story of yours to someone who gives a fuck about it," Natsu said with a friendly smile, which was contrasting with his rude words. "I'm not asking you for manpower and resources," He clarified, "I only need directions. The king of Edolas will die by my hand," God of ruin announced.
"EEEEEHHH!?" Entire guild screamed in awe as they've heard Natsu's declaration.
And while almost everyone here were looking at God of Ruin in shock, Sin was looking at him with displeasure. "Wait a minute!" Familiar protested. "Why it is you should be the one to execute the king?!"
"Why not?" Natsu asked in surprise.
"If I'll get to him first – I'll deal with him myself!" Sin announced, pointing at Natsu, as if challenging him, "First come – first served!"
"Hah!" Erza interjected, "You two are too boastful to get any results! I will be the one to administer the king's punishment!" She proclaimed bellicosely.
"All right, challenge accepted," Natsu replied with narrowed eyes.
And whilst the entire guild was looking at the reckless trio in disbelief, Natsu remembered of something. "Lisanna," He called for the blue-eyed girl as he created a small lighting ball between his index and middle fingers, and threw it at Lisanna.
"Ah!?" A girl yelped as the ball hit her right into forehead, though she actually didn't feel anything. A small blue rune appeared at the point of impact, but only for a moment before disappearing.
"Don't bother, it's just a tracker," Natsu explained, "So you won't get lost again. For now, just stay in this guild, your sister should arrive shortly," He informed.
"What?! Mira-nee… is coming here?!" Lisanna asked as she again began to feel some panic.
"Yes," Natsu nodded imperturbably, "I expect her to come here within next 24 to 48 hours – we're against entire kingdom, after all, I'm likely to need her help. Don't worry about her, she's strong enough to handle the situation," God of ruin waved his arm. "As for you, I'm only asking you to do one thing," God of ruin addressed Lisanna, speaking as an old friend, not as S-class wizard or something. "Lisanna, you're almost 18 years old (her birth day was 2nd June, X767), so please, act as an adult for once, and meet Mirajane head-on, there was enough of lie already."
In reply, Lisanna could only smile guiltily, "Yes."
Edolas, Time +6:00, Royal city of Edolas
Headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Three figures were walking along the corridor, at one of the topmost floors of the royal castle, which stood in the very middle of an almost round city, surrounded by walls.
"Man, have you seen that huge lacrima, Erza?! It's awesome!" Exclaimed quite a young guy with strange arrow-like eyebrows (shaped like clock hands), and messy dark purple hair with one thick lock of white hair near the front right side. He was wearing a white uniform consisting of a long coat with gold trim and metal shoulder guards over matching pants and a dark green shirt, decorated with an olive-green crisscrossing line pattern. This guy is Hughes, captain of the Edolas' royal army's Third Magic Warfare Unit.
The thing that caused his excitement was perfectly visible from the corridor's windows – a huge lacryma crystal, which was floating over the royal city, being placed on one of Edolas' floating islands.
"I saw it when I arrived, Hughes. It's certainly exquisite," Replied a well-endowed woman with long, flowing, wavy scarlet hair with an elegant, loosely tied knot at the back. She was wearing a very provocative outfit comprised of a revealing, halter-type armor breastplate top, that leaves much of her cleavage and stomach exposed, with light-armored gauntlets and greaves on her forearms and forelegs, respectively, as well as her thighs. She also was wearing a dark bikini bottom with a piece of cloth obscuring her hips, and a dark scarf around her neck.
No doubts – she's Erza Knightwalker, captain of the Edolas' royal army's Second Magic Warfare Unit, an infamous "Fairy Hunter Erza", who, one way or another, was responsible for hundreds of deaths of wizards that disobeyed the Wizards Guild Disbandment Decree, including almost half a hundred of Edolas Fairy Tail members, thus her nickname. Also, she's definitely the Edolas' counterpart of Erza Bloodfallen, this is pretty obvious, even though the two of them aren't quite look alike – anyone can distinguish one from another.
"It contains the magic power of tens of thousands of Earth Land people!" Hughes exclaimed; he seemed truly excited.
"More precisely, it's the magic power of about 200 wizards, plus the lives of many others," Clarified a tall man with blue eyes and blond hair in a pompadour style. He has long sideburns extending to the ends of his face and some stubble, also he has a very defined face and a noticeable cleft chin. He was wearing a light red, shiny armor with gold chain mail and a bronze belt, and what appear to be black briefs. He also wears a white cape with the Edolas insignia on it. It was Sugarboy, captain of the Edolas' royal army's Fourth Magic Warfare Unit.
"Never mind the details, Sugarboy!" Hughes waved him off carefreely, "The point is that it's awesome!" He really seemed amazed as the three were walking along the corridor, Hughes just couldn't settle down, "Listen! What I consider 'awesome' isn't any ordinary 'awesome'! It's super-awesome!"
As they were walking, someone appeared from behind, as he came out from one of the side corridors. "Erza-san," A very short, elderly man, called for Knightwalker. The elderly man was sporting a strangely shaped nose and large eyes. Aside from his horn-shaped eyebrows and the tufts of hair on either side of his face, he was completely bald. He also had some dark liver spots on his forehead and on the side of his head. Due to his small frame, most of his figure was covered by his decorated cape, which features a wide, adorned collar and two large medal-like ornaments on the front. Under it, he was wearing a simple dark robe with lighter edges. "You still haven't eliminated Fairy Tail?" Short man asked, meaning Edolas version of Fairy Tail, of course.
"Byro?" Knightwalker looked at him with pretty indifferent gaze. This man's name was Byro, the Chief of Staff of the Royal Army of Edolas.
"You tarnish your name of Fairy Hunter," He reprimanded her, "Fairy Tail is now the only guild that remains. Indeed, they're the speediest when it comes to fleeing, and are very good at hiding, but his Majesty has grown weary and demand results," Shorty informed.
Edo-Erza was looking at him with stern and displeased gaze, but didn't say anything.
"No need to rush the lady," Sugarboy interjected, "The day this goddess will vanquish the fairies is close at hand."
"Yeah! Erza's awesome with a spear! Way too awesome!" Hughes agreed.
Byro just let out a disgusting-sounding laugh, as someone else approached from behind. "Cease that unnerving laugh, Byro," A deep man's voice sounded through the corridor. The person that approached could be called a beastman, with the head of a black panther, but he had a tall, muscular build similar to that of a human. He had a white muzzle, small red eyes, and a scar running down across his left eye. Like his fellow commanders, he was wearing a set of battle armor with a long cape draped around his body, as well as a metallic helmet. It was Pantherlily, captain of the Edolas' royal army's First Magic Warfare Unit.
"Pantherlily," Edo-Erza greeted him.
"I don't like annoying noise. That goes for you too, Hughes," A beastman addressed his fellow captain, he seemed to be in a pretty bad mood.
"Me?!" Hughes asked indignantly. "You totally think you're the most awesome of all! I'm sure of it!"
"You ought to learn to shut your mouth," Pantherlily replied with the same deep voice.
"You're in a foul mood, Lily," Sugarboy noted from aside.
"Humph!" Black beastman snorted as he passed between his fellow captains and walked forth, not saying anything else.
"He's apparently displeased by the recent increase in armament," Edo-Erza speculated, talking about the reason behind Pantherlily's bad mood as she watched him going away.
"He should be elated, as a military man himself," Sugarboy seemed puzzled.
"However, our kingdom has nearly unified the entire world," Knightwalker noted, "I have to admit I see no reason for further building our arsenal either."
"Perhaps it's because there are still a few pockets of resistance out there," Sugarboy thought aloud.
"We, alone, would suffice," Edo-Erza renounced that idea.
"I don't get it! You're all saying super-complicated stuff!" Hughes exclaimed with quarrelsome voice tone, "I don't get it at all!"
Byro was watching this conversation with a wicked smile on his face.
Edolas, Time +6:20, Royal city of Edolas, king's throne room.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A small, yet fast, barefooted girl barged into the king's throne room. It was a lean and short girl whose face was bearing a distinct resemblance to a puppy, with a small nose and a green headgear possessing large, floppy 'ears'. She had brown eyes and long brown hair that is usually kept with a blue, spherical ponytail which descends on her right shoulder. She was wearing a yellow dress over a dark blue, skin-tight bodysuit that runs from the middle of her forearms down to her shoulders, also she was wearing white gloves on both hands and was, as it was noted, barefooted. The girl's name was Coco, she's currently serves as an Assistant Chief of Staff of Edolas' royal army.
"I've been told we will be able to extract magic power from that giant lacrima in four days' time, as scheduled!" Coco reported as she saluted to the king, "The plan was a success!"
"It's not enough…" A dark voice replied as the one sitting on the throne spoke out. The man was a tall and slim elderly man with a very long, wavy grayish-white hair reaching down below his shoulder, with a similar beard going down below his neck to his upper chest, and a matching mustache. He possessed an elongated, rectangular face with prominent cheekbones, with a similarly elongated, prominent flat nose. His round eyes were circled by a series of wrinkles, vaguely reminiscent of square scales. He was wearing a regal, yet little garish attire, which is brown in color, possessing different shades. That was Faust, the current king of Edolas.
"Huh? What?" Coco asked as she tilted her head, looking at her king in puzzlement. "Your Majesty, what did you say just now?" She wondered.
"I said it isn't enough," King repeated himself.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, that lacrima contains the magic power of an entire Earth Land magic city!" Coco exclaimed. She seemed hyperactive, as she was running around the Faust's throne room while talking, without any apparent need for that. "It can supply our kingdom with magic power for the next ten years!" Coco added enthusiastically.
"My grand kingdom of Edolas… must not be allowed to be finite," King replied with the same dark expression. "More… Get me more magic power… What I desire is everlasting! Everlasting magic power!" King proclaimed his ambitions.
Edolas, Time +7:15, somewhere in rocky desert.
"Still, not that I'm not thankful or something, but tell my, why have you tagged along with us?" Sin asked as he, Natsu and Erza were walking over the desert's sand. "We only needed some directions…" He addressed the blonde-haired girl.
"I… I'm not worried about you, just so we clear!" Edo-Lucy replied, though her cheeks were flushing slightly. Apparently, she's a tsundere. Though, Natsu was thinking that she's not really worried about them – most likely she's really curious to see the Earth Land's magic. Curiosity was definitely the thing that their Lucy and Edo-Lucy have in common. Though, if she wanted to see the Earth Land's magic, until now Edo-Lucy was out of luck as Natsu decided to continue keeping the low profile for now. It's not yet the time to announce their arrival to this world - there's still a lot of reconnaissance data that have to be gathered before team could start acting openly.
"Honestly, it's quite hard to believe that I'm not a member of Fairy Tail in this world," Erza noted as she was looking around.
"So, the fact that I'm, apparently, not present in this world at all doesn't concerns you?" Natsu asked with narrowed eyes, but Erza ignored his caustic remark.
"Honestly, from our viewpoint, it's harder to believe you actually a member of a wizards' guild," Edo-Lucy admitted. "There's no wizard in our world who doesn't afraid of Fairy Hunter, when you see her face is when you die…" She added darkly.
Natsu wanted to say something about it, but decided to keep it to himself, as his wife seemed really troubled for some reason. Erza's counterpart really tarnished her name in this world, but it is hard to say why real Erza cares about it.
Edolas, Time +9:05, Port city of Sycca.
"This is the map of Edolas I borrowed from the hotel staff," Erza spoke out, pointing at world's map that was placed on a table. As team arrived to Sycca, they've rented a hotel room to further discuss their plans in more or less private atmosphere.
"This place is much smaller than I initially thought," Sin admitted. According to this map, entire world's size (i.e. internal size of this Sphere of Inverted Reflections) was about equal to Caelum kingdom, in other words, about twice as big as Fiore.
"The 'Anima', through which we've entered this SIR, is around here," Natsu pointed at the southwestern region of western island, "And here's where the local Fairy Tail is located," He pointed slightly to the north from previous mark. "There's the small town we decided to ignore, Louen," He pointed further to the north and to the east. "As such, now we're here," God of ruin pointed at easternmost part of the western island, at a large peninsula. Natsu decided to go to Sycca and ignore Louen because he needed information, and not only Sycca was a larger city, it also was a major port, and if one's looking for rumors – port city is the place one should go.
"After we'll learn all that we need, if we're lucky, we'll probably be free to do whatever, so we'll just take flight and go straight to the capital," Sin pointed at northern part of eastern island. The royal capital was located there.
"Are you guys seriously gonna take on the kingdom?!" Edo-Lucy suddenly asked as she was watching the three discussing their plans.
"Am I really have to repeat myself?" Natsu asked indifferently, not tearing off his sight from the map, making some notes, "We'll take back what is ours and kill your king and his closest associates."
"I wonder if it falls into your definition of taking on the kingdom?" Sin rolled his illusory eyes.
"Waging war with the kingdom with only the three of you…" Blonde looked at Natsu's team with somewhat tragic expression on her face, as if they're on some suicide mission.
"We'll surpass quantity with quality," Erza replied imperturbably.
"If you see it in yourself, I'd suggest you to prepare your resume – this country will need a new government, after we'll be done with this one," Sin let out a sarcastic joke.
'They're so strange…' Edo-Lucy seemed a bit startled with the trio's behavior. They don't seem really worried, despite they're going to fight against an entire kingdom. They definitely don't seem stupid or careless, in contrary – these three look like professionals, so it's unlikely they're underestimating the opposition… what gives them so much confidence? 'These guys just might be able to change the world… I can't believe I feel that way…' She thought.
"Don't fret over it too much, we're not asking you to help us in battle," Natsu pronounced indifferently, as if he could hear her thoughts, even though he still was examining the map.
Edolas, Time +10:10, Port city of Sycca.
After they've discussed their strategy, the team did split up, and all three headed to different locations to gather different kinds of information about the kingdom.
(With Natsu)
Natsu headed to the port. On his way there, he didn't find anything remarkable, aside from crowds of people, all of which were looking loke normal humans, but without magic conducting system – just like Edolas Fairy Tail members – all these people were completely unable to use magic, not by themselves, at least.
(With Sin)
Still in his humanoid form, wearing a hooded cloak, Sin went to the local bar. There, he was listening from the shadows. In particular, a conversation between three men nearby attracted his attention.
"Hey, you heard? They're gonna extract magic power from that lacrima in about three days from now," Brown-haired man shared some rumors with his friends.
"Yeah, I don't really get it, but are you talking about how they swiped magic power from some other world?" Man wearing an eastern-looking hat inquired.
"Are they sure this is a good idea? I just hope nothing crazy happens… I mean, no one will come looking for it, right?" Man wearing a green shirt asked unconfidently.
"What, are you criticizing the king's way of doing things?!" Brown-haired man asked with some indignancy. Apparently, the king is highly respected here, which, most likely, means that the kingdom has a smooth-working propaganda machine.
"No, no, that's not what I mean…" Man wearing a green shirt hastened to reply.
"It'll be fine. Just leave it to his majesty," Man wearing an eastern-looking hat stated confidently, "Ain't nothin' for us to worry about."
Sin approached the three conversing men. "That discussion of yours… Think you could provide me some more details?" He asked… and looked in surprise to his right, at a suit-wearing man, who just asked almost the same question as Sin.
(With Erza)
Erza, in company with Edo-Lucy, whose full name appeared to be Lucy Ashley, went to the local trade center, which looked like a weird hybrid of a medieval market and a modern trade mall. To her displeasure, she-dragon once again was forced to wear a hooded cloak, but that was a forced measure for the recon mission – her normal appearance is too flashy. Beautiful woman automatically attracts attention, besides, Erza's similarity to her Edolas' counterpart doesn't helping, either.
"Magic used to be bought and sold normally until just recently," Ashley was explaining situation about magical trade to Erza, showing her around the trade center. "But then the kingdom began its guild-hunting and now buying and selling magic is banned," She added sadly, "And not only that, just possessing magic is a crime."
"Even simply wielding around something magical is a crime?" Erza asked for clarification.
"Yes," Blonde nodded. "Everyone who had it were forced to either just throw it away or sell on a black market."
As much as Erza could understand, in Edolas the word 'magic' means not the ethernano processing method, but magical items. Due to some special properties of this SIR, there aren't people like Earth Land mages, who can use magic power without artifacts.
"But magic was originally a part of everyday life, right?" Erza inquired.
"Yeah. The kingdom's taking an entire culture from us," Blonde sighed heavily, "And for what? Just to keep it all for itself…"
"Understood," Erza nodded.
(With Sin)
During his investigation, by pure chance, Sin found a golden vein – an opposition journalist. If fed by proper information, he may become an invaluable asset in the war. And even more to it – the journalist appeared to be no one else but Gajeel – a counterpart of the Earth Land's Gajeel Redfox. Just like everyone else here – this Gajeel is unable to use magic, but he seems to be an educated, smart and cunning man, so Sin must play this card right.
"So, you came to this world with some other people from another world?" Edo-Gajeel wondered.
"Not 'with', more like 'after'," Sin replied – of course he couldn't tell the bare truth to this man. "I'm not a warrior – I'm a historian and a writer," He lied, "I just came here to witness what's going to happen with my own eyes."
"I see," Edo-Gajeel smiled slightly, "So, we are colleagues…"
"Of sort, yes," Sin nodded.
"Your story is an utterly intriguing one, Mr. Sinnal," Gajeel called the familiar by the name Sin has provided.
"That's… a questionable choice of words, mister Gajeel," Sin slightly shook his head. "You see, by kidnapping people from our world, that king of yours offended some very powerful, and pretty ruthless people. From their point of view – everyone in this kingdom is an enemy, including commoners," Sin explained, feigning a sincere concern for the people of Edolas. "As I understand, you're a freelance journalist in Edolas?" He addressed Edo-Gajeel.
"Yes," Man in suit replied as he sat on stool opposite to Sin. "My job is to investigate and write articles about the truth of events throughout the world."
"I assume you've got yourself some enemies thanks to your work?" Sin inquired.
"Indeed, I'm sure there are some who consider me an eyesore," Journalist replied pretty calmly. "I write articles that are troublesome for the king and the government, but I cannot write articles based on lies," He expressed his professional pride.
"I see," Sin nodded. "Well, Mr. Gajeel, I hate to say it, but if it'll really come to the all-out war, the grim task of explaining to the people of Edolas – what's the cause of all the misfortune that may befall on them – will be up to you…"
In reply, Edo-Gajeel just nodded with dark face expression.
(With Erza)
"My hair going to turn into a complete mess," Erza complained about her hooded cloak that was messing up her hair. Her luxury, knee-long, fiery-red hair was her special pride, she was actually spending a lot of tame caring about them.
"Is caring about your hair an Earth Land custom or something?" Lucy Ashley wondered, looking at her temporary companion.
Erza looked at Edo-Lucy in surprise, "I would think all girls feel that way," She shrugged. Actually, until a few years ago, it was Erza's role to ask such strange questions.
"Girls, huh…" Blonde displayed a bit forced smile. "In a world like this, 'boys this' and 'girls that' starts to seem like a nonsense. Because it's a struggle just to survive…"
"But as much as I could see – everyone in this world's guild seemed to be having fun," She-dragon noted.
"Of course they did," Ashley replied. "Laughing, even if you have to force it, keeps your spirit from being broken. Plus, there are people in this world that needs us. So even if it means turning 'dark', our guild will keep going. Still… that's not really enough."
"I see," Erza nodded. Unlike Natsu and Sin, who couldn't care less about this place's inhabitants, Erza actually was feeling some sympathy towards members of local version of Fairy Tail, towards Lucy Ashley in particular. Erza still could remember herself from several years old – back then, when Jellal was holding her friends as hostages – it was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over her head. Back then she also couldn't think about girlish stuff, like how she looks and all. Currently, these people are in similar situation…
But before Edo-Lucy could say anything else, Erza abruptly turned to the left, so fast that she actually elicited a light gale. "Erza-san?" Blonde looked at she-dragon in surprise, but the latter didn't say anything as she was looking at something.
Both Natsu and Sin could look 'inside' of other people, so to say, like they were able to observe a person's magic conducting system. Erza had no such capability, but when it comes to far objects observation – neither Natsu nor Sin could hold a candle for her. Eyes of she-dragon were like a powerful binocular, allowing her to see clearly for many miles away.
And now, she was looking somewhere outside of city's border. Erza felt as if someone's watching her, and she actually managed to spot some… suspicious person, so to say. There, atop the high rocky mountain, about ten miles away from Erza's current position, a strange girl was standing. Due to big distance, Erza couldn't grasp every detail, but she got girl's general appearance. Her hair was of dark purple-to-black gradient, being tied into two somehow uneven ponytails. Her eyes were of magenta color, with dark purple crystalline tint. She wore a dark purple dress attached with black laces and a set of vivid, magenta-and-dark pink plated armor which adorned her shoulders and waist. The dress is open at the back and the front, to which exposed most of her skin and a two-layered, knee-length skirt. And – her most distinct feature – her left eye was burning with a mix of dark purple and magenta-colored flames.
It didn't seem like the girl was watching Erza in particular though, it seemed more like she was observing the city in general. And before she-dragon could get any thoughts – the mysterious girl jumped down from the rock and disappeared, heading somewhere away from the city. Erza had no idea who it was, however, that burning eye of her actually reminded she-dragon of something. 'Is that girl… actually the Natsu's counterpart?!' She thought for a moment, though that was just on a whim, and Erza quickly threw that weird thought out of her head.
* - Mysterious girl's appearance is a mix of appearances of Yatogami Tenka (Date-A-Live Tōka's inverse personality) and Insane Black Rock Shooter (I.BRS).
A bit of an afterword. As I'm looking at my story now, if I'd started it now, I would've done a few things slightly different.
For example, I'd probably go with another race for Erza's parental being, from who she's inheriting her powers, i.e., Andromeda would've been a member of another race, not a dragon, as dragons seems… hmm, a bit too common, probably. But back then I was at a very beginning of world building, and list of divine beast tribes simply didn't exist.
And, most important change – I'd omit Lisanna's fake death – I'd go with her being alive and present in Fairy Tail from the very beginning. Funny thing is – I don't even remember why I decided to with her being considered dead, but that decision caused me a lot of troubles later, when I was developing Mirajane's character, which I could easily avoid. Well, I guess it's a bit too late to think of it now, huh? I won't allow some wrong decisions to affect the main plot.
And that's it for now! Read and review (after you get sober after celebration xD). Again, Happy New Year, everyone!