Hello to everyone. I am terribly sorry for the long wait. I've hit a bit of a writer's block. Don't worry though, I'm over it. So lets get started. I do not own Fairy Tail or Devil May Cry.
An Unexpected Betrayal
Dante, Natsu, Modeus, Happy, Lucy, and Wendy stood there dumbfounded as they saw the cowering Edolas Natsu. While Lisanna and Edolas Eva looked unsurprised at this.
"I don't know why." The teary eyed Edolas Natsu whimpered. "I'm sorry, please don't hurt me."
"Huh?" Dante, Natsu, Modeus, Wendy, and Lucy all questioned at the same time.
Lisanna shook her head unsurprisingly. "Oh Natsu."
"What?"
"Not you, him." She pointed to his Edolas self.
"Uh…" Dante tried. "Are you… really the same dick from five minutes ago?" He questioned to the cowering Edolas Natsu.
"Yes it's me! Same guy!" Edolas Natsu continued to whimper.
Wendy and Modeus looked towards the Edolas Eva who just sighed. "That's what he's like. Behind the wheel of a car he's as cocky as they come. Take him out of the car, and he is the biggest baby."
"This world's Natsu is a total scardey-cat!" Happy exclaimed.
Edolas Natsu continued to whimper. "Please! You guys are freaking me out! Don't scream!"
Natsu had a blank stare of disbelief on his face with a comic-sick aura around his head as his right eye twitched a bit. Lucy couldn't help but give a mischievous smile towards him. "It's just like looking into a mirror, isn't it Natsu?" She teased.
"Lucy, be nice." Lisanna lightly scolded.
Dante thought for a moment. "Huh, you know, this actually makes sense." That got all his friends' attention. He pointed to Natsu. "You're an impulsive meat-head who loves to fight and always charges in fists-blazing, which I totally admire by the way. It makes sense your opposite here is a total pussy."
"I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry! But this is as far as I can take you!" Edolas Natsu cried as he huddled himself on the ground.
"How come?" Natsu asked.
"Well, we have limited fuel, and our Lucy told us to get you guys close to the Royal City, so we did." Edolas Eva explained.
"I see." Modeus understood. "You don't have to do anything that frightens you."
"Yeah, you guys got us this far, plus you did save us from Nelo Angelo." Wendy added. "Thank you."
"We defiantly don't have room for a blubbering coward on our team." Carla stated.
"Don't be rude!" Wendy exclaimed to the white cat.
Edolas Eva smiled at the younger girl. "I take it you're the Wendy from this other world, right?" She nodded. Edolas Eva kneeled to her level. "You're such a cute little girl." She patted her head. "You look as if you're our Wendy's little sister." The young Sky Dragon Slayer blushed at that complement.
"So you must be Earthland's version of me?" Edolas Natsu guessed to Natsu.
"Are you just now figuring that out?" Natsu asked irritatingly.
Edolas Eva looked to a certain white-haired swordsman. "What's your name young man?"
Dante was silent for a moment. "It's Dante."
"'Dante'? That's a very nice name." Edolas Eva complemented.
"My name is Modeus, it's an honor." The black-clothed swordsman bowed.
"Well my name is Happy, and this beauty here is Carla." Happy introduced as he gestured to the aforementioned white cat.
"And I'm Lucy, but you already knew that." Lucy greeted with a friendly smile, only for Edolas Natsu to scurry and hide behind his car.
"I'm so sorry! I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you!" Edolas Natsu whimpered, causing Lucy to sigh as lines appeared on the back of her head.
"Geeze Lucy, give scared-me a break, would ya?" Natsu told her.
"I'm guessing from what we've seen of your Lucy, your Natsu is completely scared of her, right?" Dante guessed to Lisanna.
"Yeah, pretty much." Lisanna confirmed.
"Well anyway, our Lucy told us to bring you here, so here you are." Edolas Eva pointed to the other side of the cliff.
They all saw the massive Royal City lay out before them. Most of the group could only look with wide eyes at the sight. Dante gave a slight whistle.
"Now that's a city." Dante said with an impressed tone of voice.
"Is that the place?" Lucy asked.
"I would think so." Modeus replied.
"I think it's the Royal City." Happy breathed.
"It's so big!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's the Royal City alright." Lisanna said.
Natsu put an arm on his Edolas counterpart's shoulder. "Ha ha! You should have told us we we're here sooner!" Natsu said in an excited tone.
Edolas Natsu ducked behind Edolas Eva. "You're right! I'm so sorry!" Natsu merely sighed.
"One of these days Natsu, you really need to grow a backbone." Edolas Eva sighed.
Natsu and Dante both walked towards the edge of the cliff and looked onto the Royal City. Dante smirked to Natsu. "You thinking what I'm thinking pal?"
"Yep." Natsu replied with his own smirk. "We'll be busting out our friends in no time!"
"There all down there, trapped in some kind of giant lacrima." Lucy said.
"We mustn't waste time!" Carla exclaimed as she, Wendy, Lucy, Happy, and Modues all began to run towards the city.
Natsu looked to see Lisanna following the group "You're still coming with us?"
"Of course." She replied. "I already came this far, I'm not turning back now."
Dante gave a smirk. "A never-say-die attitude, I like that." Lisanna then ran off to join the others leaving Dante and Natsu with Edolas Eva and Edolas Natsu.
"Thanks for the ride." Dante thanked the two.
"Yeah, we owe ya guys big time." Natsu added as the two we're about to run down.
"Wait!" Edolas Natsu called, causing the two to stop.
"Are you guys serious about taking on the entire kingdom?" Edolas Eva asked.
"Pretty much, yeah." Dante confirmed. "We're not just doing this for our friends. These chumps are tearing apart their own world to, so someone has to take em down a notch."
"Got that right, these guys want a fight, we'll give them one." Natsu added with a serious tone of voice.
Both Edolas Eva and Edolas Natsu looked quite surprised at that statement. "Well, your both certainly brave." She complemented.
"But… I hate to be saying this… but you can't beat them." Edolas Natsu said, looking down.
Edolas Natsu simply smiled. "We'll see." The two turned to down to join their friends.
"You guys say hi to your Lucy for me, and tell her thanks for sending you guys." Dante said as he waved back.
Edolas Eva smiled. "We will, and you guys just be careful."
The group comprised of Natsu, Dante, Lisanna, Lucy, Wendy, Modeus, Happy, and Carla proceed down the hill towards the Royal City. Though Happy had something on his mind as they walked.
"Hey guys." He spoke up, getting the group's attention. "Didn't you notice that Eva woman looked exactly like Trish?"
Lucy put a finger on her chin. "Huh, now that I think about it, those two did look a lot a like."
"Who's Trish?" Lisanna asked.
"A woman and Fairy Tail member from Earthland, and a close friend to Dante's." Wendy replied.
"Could Eva have been the Edolas counterpart to Trish?" Lucy asked.
"I do not think so, those two seem like completely different people." Modeus replied.
"Plus they smelled completely different to." Natsu added.
"And given Trish's, 'nature' she doesn't have an Edolas counterpart, as do other certain individuals." Carla explained.
"Yeah that's right." Lucy thought. "Trish is a demon, and demons aren't born in Edolas."
"Don't you guys have your own Eva?" Lisanna asked.
"I don't think so." Wendy thought.
"You know someone named Eva, Modeus?" Natsu asked.
"No, I do not."
"I do."
All eye set on Dante as he stopped in his tracks, not even facing the group to show a somewhat pained expression on his face.
"You do?" Happy asked.
"So who is she?" Carla asked as well.
"Well… she's…" Dante sighed. "She's my mother."
Everyone in the entire group looked with wide and circular eyes at those words to come from Dante's mouth.
"Your mother?!" Lucy questioned.
"That lady up there was your mom?!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Dante I thought your mom was… you know…." Happy tried.
"Dead?" Dante finished. "She is. I saw her die with my own eyes."
Lisanna covered her mouth with both her hands. "Your mother… died…?"
"That woman back there was her Edolas counterpart I'm guessing." Dante stated.
Modeus thought about it for a moment. "Yes, that would make sense. If she was indeed your mother, she surely would have recognized you."
"Yeah." Dante replied, not facing the group.
"It does make sense." Carla thought. "Demons are not born in Edolas, as to why we have not seen an Edolas counterpart to Dante, Modeus, Vergil, or Sparda. However, Dante's mother was human and killed by several demons several years ago in Dante's childhood. Seeing as she was human it would make sense for her to have an Edolas counterpart, and seeing as there are no demons in Edolas, there would be no reason to hunt her down."
"Dante…" Wendy tried. "If that was the Edolas version of your mother, why didn't you say anything to her?"
"What could I say?" Dante asked, he imitated a scene. "Hi there, I'm the son of your counterpart from another dimension."
Natsu looked to Lisanna. "Hey, does your Eva have any kids? She certainly looks old enough to be a mom."
"No." Lisanna answered. "She never married." She thought for a moment. "But… I guess you could say she is a parent to her niece Lucy."
That caught everyone's attention. "What was that?" Dante asked.
"Oh you don't know?" Lisanna questioned. "Here in Edolas, our Eva is the aunt of our Lucy."
It was silent for a few seconds "WHAAAAAAAT?!" Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, and Happy all exclaimed at the same time. Carla and Modeus both looked quite shocked, where as Dante's expression could not be described with mere words.
"FOR REAL?!" Natsu exclaimed.
Lucy thought for a moment. "If she's the aunt of me in Edolas, does that mean that Dante and I are…?"
Dante quickly raised his hand. "Uh, lets put a pin in that theory to explore another time. Right now we got some people to save, and not a lot of time to do it."
"Dante." Wendy said somewhat sympathetically.
"He's right." Carla pointed out. "We do have a job to do. We'll settle this later, but for now lets get back to what we we're doing."
With that, the group walked back towards the Royal City. Though some of the group found themselves looking towards Dante at the front who honestly didn't know what to think. The same could be said for Lucy as well.
Not long after, the group had entered the Royal City. But it wasn't at all what they thought it would be. Here people walked about freely and talked freely as well. The air seemed quite peaceful in fact, not at all like the outside towns of Edolas they have seen so far. There we're even some stores selling magic, with even some little kids playing on magical wooden horses.
"Wow." Dante breathed. "I mean just… wow."
"There so happy." Lucy observed.
"Not quite what I had first expected." Modeus observed as well.
"Yeah, I though this place would be dark and scary." Wendy observed.
Natsu looked to Lisanna, his face silently asking for an explanation. "Don't look at me. This is the first time I've even seen the Royal City!"
"These guys are openly selling magic." Dante looked around. "Just like in Magnolia back home."
"It wasn't too long ago we learned magic was outlawed in this world." Modeus added. "These people don't seem to be to aware of it."
"Not exactly my idea of a dictatorship." Lucy said.
"And we got into this city without having to fight a single guard." Natsu said as well.
"Compared to the rest of Edolas I've seen, this place seems like a fair." Lisanna stated.
"I'm sure it's because they steal magic from everywhere and hoard it all here." Carla said. "Then they try to glamourize over their crimes to make it more appealing to the general public."
"Well it's not working for me." Lucy stated.
"Me neither." Lisanna agreed.
"I hear ya ladies." Dante agreed as well. "These people are living in a fantasy land. My guess is they don't even know there magic is running low, and the Kingdom is making all the guilds here, like this world's Fairy Tail, look like terrorist cells or something, hence why there labeled 'Dark Guilds'. Makes you me wonder how these people would feel if they knew what this Kingdom's really about."
"I'm sure the Royal Army is doing what they can to prevent that from happening, or they'd loose control of there own citizens." Modeus voiced before a disgusted look came on his face. "People who use deception to maintain peace do not deserve the power they are given."
"Agreed." Lucy, Dante, Lisanna, even Carla all said at the same time.
The group passed by a particularly crowded area; Wendy was the first to notice. "Hey guys, it looks like there's something going on over here."
They looked to where Wendy was describing. "Is this some kind of party?" Dante questioned.
"It's some sort of celebration." Modeus said.
"But for what?" Lisanna asked.
"Some kind of parade or something?" Lucy wondered.
Natsu and Happy began to run to the celebration. "Ooh, like their version of Fantasia?"
"Aye sir!" Happy agreed.
Dante and Carla both had anger mark on their foreheads. "Get back here you idiots!" Dante exclaimed.
"We are here for business, not pleasure, remember!?" Carla exclaimed as well.
The group had gotten into the crowd of celebrating people who cheered and awed at the sight of something as confetti fell to the ground.
"What's the deal? Why's everyone cheering?" Natsu asked as he and the others wormed there way through all the people.
"Natsu hold on!" Lisanna tried to call to him.
"Whoa it's super crowded over here!" Happy observed.
"What the hell are they so cheery about?" Dante questioned.
"I suppose we are about to find out." Modeus replied.
"Geeze." Lucy breathed as she had trouble walking through the crowd.
Natsu and Dante suddenly stopped, Lisanna stopped shortly behind Natsu, but Lucy bumped right into the flat side of Rebellion on Dante's back. The metal hurt her face a bit.
"Hey if your gonna stop in front of me like that, warn me." Lucy pointed out as she held her face. "That thing isn't made of cotton in case you haven't noticed." She referred to Rebellion, but no response came. "Dante?"
"Guys, are you okay?" Lisanna asked. The two girls peered over the guys' shoulders and looked with wide eyes at what they we're now seeing.
Right in front of them, tied down to the floor, and surrounded by at least a dozen guards in front of the palace was in fact a giant Lacrima crystal. The heroes all saw this with wide eyes.
"Is that…?" Modeus breathed.
"That's a Lacrima." Wendy finished.
"A giant one." Lisanna breathed.
"But that means…" Lucy began.
"All our friends are inside of there." Happy finished.
"And if you look closely…" Carla pointed out. "You can see there's a missing piece." She pointed to a jagged edge at the top.
"What?! You mean there's more of that thing somewhere?!" Lucy exclaimed.
Dante and Natsu both looked around at the crowd of people, they could see the wide and happy smiles and cheers. The cheers intensified as a certain individual stepped onto a large podium in front of the lacrima. It was Faust.
Lisanna shook with fear as her eyes laid on him, something Natsu noticed. "What is it?"
"That's him…" Lisanna shook. "The King of Edolas."
Dante looked towards the king. "So that's his royal assness huh?" Dante noticed all the people and saw there expressions of joy, happiness, and hope. These expressions made Dante boil with anger inside. "These idiots have no idea who that really is, do they?"
At the same time, Gajeel and Trish, both wearing hoods, around the corner of an adjacent building, were also observing this scene. Both the Iron Dragon Slayer and Lighting She-Demon could only look in scowls at the Edolas King.
Someone else, whom no one, not even the King himself seemed to notice was Nelo Angelo at the top of a nearby rooftop observing the scene unfold himself.
"Children of Edolas." King Faust began to announce. "It brings me great joy to my heart to tell you that our Anima Project has produced us enough magic power to last another decade!" The King announced, resulting in an uproar amongst the citizens.
During the cheers, Dante could only scowl as his he thought of words his mother would most likely not approve of. Happy appeared to have also followed the same train of thought.
"You didn't produce a darn thing! All you did was break into our world and steal it from us!" Fortunately Happy's outburst went unnoticed.
"Please control your temper Tomcat." Carla quietly scolded.
King Faust continued to speak as he raised his staff. "Let us rejoice together! Let us sing and dance! Let laughter roar through our sacred kingdom!" The citizens all cheered as he continued to speak.
Modeus could only look around at these people. "If only they knew the suffering their King was truly causing." Lucy, Wendy, as well as Lisanna, could only look around with similar thoughts in their heads and worried looks. Gajeel and Trish both glared even further from their location. Nelo Angelo also watched from his perch and gave a slightly amused smile.
"The power within this lacrima belongs to all subjects of our fair homeland!" Faust continued to announce to his citizens. "Today we hold our future in our hands to ensure its prosperity into tomorrow and beyond! Therefore we must swear to protect this gift from Heaven with our very lives!" The Kingdom continued to cheer at there King's words.
"Gift from Heaven my ass!" Dante thought silently as he clenched his fists.
"My dear children…" Faust continued. "Today I shall make my most solemn vow as your benevolent ruler." He jammed his staff into the lacrima, cracking it. "I will bring you more power! So much more than you can possibly imagine!"
Bits of the lacrima broke off from the crack and fell to the ground. These bits fell into the eyesight of both Dante and Natsu. Natsu's eyes filled with rage, where as Dante's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles could pop.
The Kingdom began to cheer and shout. They would continuously praise there world's name. "Edolas! Edolas! Edolas! Edolas!"
Nelo Angelo simply looked amused. "Hmph. They may be tenacious creatures, but humans are so easy to dupe. Yes, this 'Gift of Heaven' shall soon be revealed as the key to the Gates of Hell."
Gajeel and Trish both glared from their corner. "Just who is that bastard kidding?" Trish uttered.
Gajeel grunted in agreement. "What a bunch of suckers. They went for his whole act hook, line, and sinker." They both started to walk away.
"So, what are we going to do about this Metal-head?" Trish asked amusingly.
"I've got a couple of ideas."
Lucy turned to her right slightly to hear a low growl. It was coming from Dante. "Bastard." He gritted through his teeth. Lucy looked quite surprised, she'd never seen Dante this angry before, it looked like he was ready to slaughter the King right then and there.
"Dante." Lucy tried.
"I could end it now." He stated through the cheers of the crowd. "I could put a bullet in his skull right here and now. No one would notice." Dante even reached into his jacket and felt around his Ivory pistol. He felt a tug on his right hand and looked to see Lucy holding it.
"I know." She said with some sorrow in her voice. "I know you're angry, but if you do that there's no telling what the Kingdom would do. We need to think." Dante was listening to every one of Lucy's words. "I know you want to save them, I do to. But we have no idea how to do it. So please, just be strong."
Dante glared but he glanced a bit to the left to see a growling Natsu slowly make his way towards the Lacrima. Natsu didn't get much further though until he felt someone latch around him from behind holding him back.
"Natsu… don't." Lisanna told the growling Dragon Slayer as she held onto them.
"It's them! Our friends! We got to get them out of there!"
Wendy, Modeus, Lucy, even Dante noticed the anger and desperation clawing inside Natsu.
"I know." Lisanna told him as she held him and tears almost formed in her eyes. "But if you get caught…. We'll save them. I promise. We'll get them all back, safe and sound."
Happy glared up with teary eyes towards the King while Carla held her head down in shame. Dante was able to calm down slightly as he glanced up to the King who was giving a joyous laugh, though he could tell this laugh was more maniacal than anything else. Dante's anger boiled as he could muster all the hate in his eyes as he could. "Just you wait you old bastard. I'm gonna wipe that smug grin off your damn face!"
Later that afternoon
The group has now held themselves up in a hotel room in the Royal City as the sun began to set. The group's members were nothing short of desperate, save for Dante and Natsu who both looked like they we're ready to go full on war on Edolas.
Natsu sat on a windowsill, looking out the window towards the castle with a deep glare. Dante had an equally anger-filled glare as he stood against the wall at the back, staring with deep anger out to the kingdom with arms-crossed as well. Lisanna, Wendy, and Lucy sat on a coach together, deep in thought and worry of what to do next. Modeus was contemplating on there next move close to the door. Happy sat by the wall in a depressed slump, while Carla was on a coffee-table writing on a piece of paper.
The deadening silence was broken by Natsu. "I can't just sit around like this forever!" He got up.
"Natsu, hold on." Dante told him. "We can't rush into this."
"What the hell!? Don't tell me you're giving up Dante!" Natsu exclaimed.
"HELL NO!" Dante exclaimed, surprising the group that he made such an outburst. "I know how you feel. Believe me, right now I want to go with you and storm the castle, guns-blazing, but we have no idea what's in store for us."
"Natsu, he's right." Lisanna told him. "That lacrima is guarded by who knows how many soldiers. Not to mention we'd also likely have to deal with Erza Knightwalker, because she'd never leaves the King's side at a time like this."
"And there is Nelo Angelo as well." Modeus added. "Natsu, we have little-to-no power in Edolas, we cannot afford to go charging in."
"Then what he hell are we supposed to do?!" Natsu questioned.
"They are right." Carla told Natsu. "Without a solid strategy in place, you don't have a prayer of saving anyone."
"But still." Wendy began. "They we're turned into that crystal, and we don't even know how to change them back."
Dante soon thought of something. "What are the odds his Royal-Pain-in-the-Ass knows?"
Lucy caught onto Dante's train of thought. "Hey yeah. Do you think that the King actually does know how to reverse the spell?"
"Well considering he's the one who invented the Anima-program I'd say that he does." Lisanna agreed. "Or he at least knows the right person for the job."
"What's on your mind Lucy?" Modeus asked.
"If we can get close enough to the King, we can pull this off!"
"For real?" Natsu eagerly asked.
"So what's your plan, Blondie?" Dante asked.
"We use Gemini!" Lucy answered. "Remember, not only do they have the power to turn into the people they touch, they can also read the minds of everyone they turn into!"
"So if we get close to the King, you can use your spirits to learn everything he knows!" Lisanna figured out.
"Exactly!" Lucy replied.
"However, no plan is perfect, everything comes with its risks." Modeus pointed out.
"You're right." Lucy responded. "Timing is the issue because they can transform into someone for no more than five minutes. And they can remember only a couple people at a time, literally just two."
"Either way, we'd need to get close to the King." Dante stated. "If the Gemini-plan fails, I'll handle it."
"You think you can get him to talk?" Happy asked.
"I can get him to sing!" Dante replied. "He'd loose a limb if he didn't."
Wendy shivered a bit. "Dante's scary when he's angry."
"Aye." Happy agreed.
"But how do we get close to him?" Lisanna wondered. "He's got quite a lot of guards surrounding him."
"Plus what if we run into Edolas Erza or Nelo Angelo again?" Wendy questioned. "There's no way we'd last against just one of them."
Carla then held up the paper she was writing on with a map drawn on it. "I've come up with a plan for getting within range." That caught everyone's attention.
The white cat began to explain. "As with any home of a paranoid ruler, when the castle was constructed, there was a secret tunnel built as an escape root that links of with an abandoned mine tunnel just outside the city wall."
"There is?" Wendy asked.
"How do you know of this?" Modeus questioned.
"It's just in my head, coming to me in little bits and pieces." Carla answered. This caught the attention of Happy, as well as Dante.
"What do you mean by that?" Lisanna asked Carla.
"From the moment we set foot in Edolas, its as though I have a mental map that's slowly being filled in." Carla explained.
"Well my head is still empty." Happy pointed out.
"And you were planning on telling us this, when exactly?" Dante questioned.
"It never came up. I felt as no reason to explain unless it was useful." Carla responded.
"Seems rather… convenient." Dante stated, with some suspicion in his voice.
"If we find that tunnel, then we have a real shot of getting close to the king." Lucy declared.
Natsu assumed an excited combat stance. "Alright! Lets get inside that geezer's head!"
"Got that right!" Lisanna agreed.
"Lets go!" Wendy agreed as well.
"Aye, aye sir!" Happy exclaimed.
"Not yet." Carla stopped them.
"Why are you always stopping me?!" Natsu comically yelled.
"Yeah, in case you hadn't noticed, we are on a time-limit." Dante pointed out.
"She's right." Modeus pointed out. "We'll move under the cover of night. In the meantime, we should get some rest, in case we encounter any resistance."
Later that night
Night had now fallen upon the Royal City of Edolas. Through the somewhat misty streets, one could see there was not a sole in active in the city as most of the citizens we're likely asleep. The only people active we're our heroes; Dante, Natsu, Lisanna, Lucy, Wendy, Happy, Modeus, and Carla.
The group of Fairy Tail members ran out into the outskirts just outside the city as Carla led them to the supposed hidden passage way. "We should be arriving at the entrance to the tunnel any moment now."
Not long after that, the group came before the entrance to the abandoned mining tunnel.
"Is this it?" Wendy asked.
"Yes, I'm positive." Carla confirmed.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Dante questioned.
"Yep, in we go." Natsu agreed as he proceeded to enter the tunnel, but was stopped by Carla.
"Wait."
"Again with the stopping?!" Natsu comically exclaimed.
"I understand that time is of the essence, trust me. But we will need a source of light in the tunnel." Carla explained.
"Yes, that would be a wise idea." Modeus agreed.
"I got this!" Natsu said confidently as he balled his fist. "One torch coming up!" He shot his fist out only for nothing to happen.
"We can't use our power here in this shit-hole, Edolas. Remember?" Dante reminded Natsu. The Dragon Slayer embarrassingly sweat dropped at this.
Dante kicked a small rock into the tunnel and its sound echoed through. Happy looked into the tunnel as well. "With Dante and Natsu powerless, I can't exactly see that Lucy being the only one who can use magic as a comforting thought."
"Give it a rest Happy, you're just jealous." Lucy said with an irritated voice.
"Right, jealous of you." Dante uttered sarcastically while rolling his eyes.
Wendy looked to see Lisanna coming back towards the group. "Hey, what are you holding there Lisanna?"
"Oh not much." She replied with a bit of an innocent eye-roll. "Just some freshly made torches!" She presented at least four un-lit torches in her hands.
The group was somewhat surprised at this. "Did you just make those?" Modeus asked.
"Hmm, hmm." Lisanna nodded. "When you're constantly on the run like our Fairy Tail, you tend to get resourceful."
"Wow. You're awesome!" Natsu complimented with a wide smile, resulting in Lisanna blushing.
"Oh… well it was nothing really."
"And how exactly are you planning to light those?" Carla questioned.
Lisanna sweat dropped a bit in embarrassment. "I hadn't actually thought of that."
"Leave that to me." Dante said. "Hold those up to the wall real quick."
Lisanna held the torches close to the rock wall just outside the entrance. Dante unsheathed Rebellion from his back and gave a horizontal swipe on the wall just above the torches. Sparks from the sword against the rocks came down onto the torches' oil and they lit up.
"Ladies and gentleman, we got fire." Dante announced with a cocky grin as Modeus, Lucy, Natsu, and Lisanna all held the lit torches with smiles.
"Very resourceful." Modeus complemented.
"Yeah, nice going Dante." Lucy complemented as well.
"No big." Dante replied. "So now lets go, unless she-cat here has anything else to say to make us wait any further."
"I do not appreciate your sarcastic humor." Carla responded to the Devil Hunter.
Happy soon had an idea as a light bulb appeared above his head. "Hey Natsu, you should try eating that fire."
Natsu looked a bit surprised. "Hey yeah." Lucy realized. "Since eating fire usually restores your magic maybe you should give it a go!"
"Alright!" Natsu smirked as he was about to gulp the fire down, but Dante closed his mouth shut.
"Won't work." Dante stated as a matter-of-factly.
"Why not?" Lisanna asked.
"Because if that kind of thing did work, Wendy should have gained her powers back from eating the air here in Edolas. But that apparently hasn't been the case." Dante explained.
"Yeah he's right." Wendy agreed. "I've been trying to eat the air here, but nothing's changed."
"Aw man!" Natsu complained.
"Well, if nothing else needs to be said, we should get going." Modeus proposed as the group entered the mining tunnel.
The group trekked through the abandoned mine, the torches as there only light source, with Carla leading the way on the map she made earlier at the hotel.
"It looks like nobody's been here in a while." Lucy observed.
"Yeah, it's kinda creepy." Lisanna agreed a bit.
Carla stopped ahead in front of the group. "Put the light right out in front of us." Modeus held a torch up and they saw a blocked up entrance with tons of rocks blocking their way and several planks of wood to seal it up.
"Aw crap, dead end." Dante uttered.
"That right there is our link." Carla stated.
Lucy felt her hand along it. "It seems pretty thick, and I think it's been fortified by some sort of magic."
"How come?" Lisanna asked.
"If I had to guess, maybe someone tried to exploit this tunnel before like we are trying to now, so the Kingdom had it sealed to prevent it from happening again." Modeus guessed.
"Yes, that would make sense." Carla agreed.
"So is this or a dead end or what?" Natsu questioned.
"We'll have to find a way to get through it. I'm sure the passage leading to the castle is right on the other side." Carla stated.
"Guess we're going to have to break it down." Happy figured.
"Leave that to me." Dante walked forward. He felt his hands along the wall and felt at how thick it seemed. He stood back a bit and drew Rebellion once more. He made two diagonal cuts along the wall; cutting the way the wood and leaving an X-mark on the stone.
"Everyone stand back." Dante ordered as everyone backed up a bit. Dante took a stance as he held Rebellion back in his right hand and reeled his left hand back in a way that pointed the tip of his sword directly to the wall and his right hand slightly forward with the blade; his knees and back slightly bent. He then lunged his sword forward, propelling himself with the natural springs in his body. The blade made direct contact with the center of the X-mark, and broke down the entire wall.
The group found themselves surprised to say the least. "Woah." Happy breathed.
"Please, hold your applause." Dante said with a smirk.
"That was amazing Dante!" Wendy praised with stars in her eyes.
"Yeah, no kidding. That's some real power right there!" Lucy agreed with an impressed tone of voice.
"Where did you find this guy?" Lisanna asked Natsu.
"Long story, I'll tell you later." He responded.
"How exactly did you manage to break down that wall?" Carla asked.
"Gatotsu." Modeus answered.
"Yeah, it's a sword-technique my old man learned from watching some certain swordsmen." Dante began to explain. "You take a certain stance and thrust your blade forward almost like a spear, the springs in your body add to the propulsion to increase the damage."
"Add that combined with Dante's own strength and you have quite the attack." Modeus stated.
"I'll say." Happy agreed. "You broke through that wall like it was nothing."
"You may not have any power here, but I have to admit that was quite impressive." Carla admitted.
"Come on, let's go then. We have to rescue all your friends." Lisanna told the group as they continued walking down the now open tunnel.
"Whether or not this passage leads directly to the castle remains to be seen." Carla stated.
"You've been right about everything else so far, I'm sure this is where we want to go." Wendy told Carla with an encouraging smile.
Natsu noticed a look of contemplation on Happy's face. "What's wrong buddy?"
"Hey, why do you think I'm not getting any kind of map inside my head?" Happy asked, getting the group's attention. "I mean I'm from Edolas just like she is, and supposedly we both got sent away on the same mission, so how come I don't know anything?"
"We agreed not to talk about that remember?" Carla reminded Happy.
"Aye." He replied in a faint whisper, though Dante had a suspicious look on his face.
"I can't give you an explanation, that just how it seems to be working out." Carla told Happy.
"Are you really sure about that?" Dante questioned Carla. "You know considering you're the reason we're in this mess in the first place."
The group was now paying close attention. "Dante, I told you as well not to pry into the details." Carla replied to him.
"Why's that exactly?" Dante questioned. "What are you trying so hard to hide?"
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Bullshit." Dante replied. "You knew that Anima would suck up Fairy Tail back in Earthland. But even that isn't it. You remember, don't you? You said the reason Natsu and Wendy survived the Anima was because they're Dragon Slayers. How could you have known that, unless it was part of your mission?"
Carla looked quite surprised at this, as did the rest of the group.
"Dante, Carla's been helping us get here, remember?" Wendy reminded.
"Yeah, but then as soon as we get here, she suddenly gets a map in her head that supposedly leads to the castle?" Dante continued to question. "But I think what Happy's saying might also be a clue."
"What exactly are you saying Dante?" Modeus questioned.
"Are you saying I'm hiding something to?" Happy asked, with a bit of a hurt tone in his voice. "Because I promise I don't know anything."
"No Happy, I trust you." Dante assured him. "I'm not accusing you of anything." He looked to the white cat. "I'm just saying how awfully easy and convenient this whole thing seems to be that Carla knows about all this."
"Just what are you trying to say?" Lucy questioned to Dante.
"If you have something to say, then say it!" Carla stated.
"You know more then you're letting on." Dante stated to Carla, who looked a bit shocked at this. "So I'm only going to ask this once, and I better not get any bull with it. What are you hiding?"
There was a bit of an awkward silence among the group until someone decided to break it.
"Guys." Lisanna spoke up. "We can't point fingers at each other right now! We don't have much time, remember? We need to work together if we're gonna make it out of this."
Natsu thought for a moment. "You know what, you're right." Dante looked a bit towards Natsu. "Listen, I get what you're saying. But right now we need to rescue our friends, we can point fingers later."
"There right Dante, we need to focus on the task ahead." Modeus agreed.
"Plus I know Carla would never hide anything from us." Wendy stated. "She wouldn't do something like that."
"Got that right, Carla's as good as they come." Happy agreed.
"Besides, you yourself have some experiences with secrets, Dante." Lucy reminded.
Dante grimaced a bit as he remembered he didn't tell them about his demon-heritage and family, and it led to Vergil wreaking havoc in the guild. He sighed as he conceded with them.
"Fine." Dante turned to Carla. "But if anyone gets hurt here, it's all on you."
Carla nodded in understanding as the group began their journey into the tunnel.
Carla would continue to lead the group turn-by-turn throughout the tunnel, as they made it further and further underground. Despite what his friends all said, Dante didn't put his suspicions to rest. He would follow for now, but if something happened and Carla was to blame for it, he'd make sure to have it settled, one way or another.
After about an hour or so, the group entered a cavern with some glowing green crystals to illuminate the cave.
"Where are we now?" Lisanna asked.
"I believe this cavern is directly underneath the castle." Carla stated.
"You sure about that?" Dante questioned with suspicion evident in his voice.
"Yes, I am sure." She replied.
"So now the question remains." Modeus stated. "How do we get in the castle and get what we need?"
"We blast our way through, just like we always do." Natsu stated simply.
"I had a feeling you'd say that." Lucy replied quite nervously.
"You surprised?" Dante asked. "Its never that simple with this guild. Whenever something like this happens, it always involves an epic battle"
"Aye." Happy agreed.
"Yes, fighting may be inevitable at this point." Carla said.
Dante walked forward and stopped suddenly. He raised his hand. "Hold on. Something's wrong."
"Dante?" Wendy asked.
"What is it?" Natsu asked as well.
Dante was silent for a second. "Duck."
"Huh?" The group asked confusedly.
Dante reached and grabbed his Ebony and Ivory Pistols. "Duck NOW!" The group ducked there heads as Dante stretched both his arms and fired in opposite directions. The bullets made contact with something. The group could only look in shock at the Edolas Royal Soldier bodies that fell from Dante's pistols.
"Royal Soldiers!" Lisanna exclaimed.
"But how…?" Lucy questioned.
"MOVE!" Natsu exclaimed as he drew out Agni and Rudra and jumped forward, slicing some silk ropes coming his way.
More silk ropes shot out from the shadows. Dante pointed his pistols and fired. Bullets intercepted some ropes and hit several more Royal Soldiers. Modeus drew Nevan as he and Natsu worked to slice the ropes that came at them. However, the rest weren't so lucky.
Lucy, Wendy, and Lisanna both suddenly found themselves tangled in the silk ropes, Lisanna had some covering her mouth to prevent her from speaking.
"Lucy!" Dante and Happy exclaimed.
"Wendy!" Modeus and Carla exclaimed as well.
"Lisanna!" Natsu exclaimed to.
More Royal Soldiers came out of the darkness. Dante, Natsu, and Modeus came in a three-way-back-to-back formation, bearing their respective weapons, as they all found themselves surrounded from all sides.
"What the hell!?" Natsu questioned.
"Can't… reach my keys…" Lucy tried to reach her keys.
"Why are there so many soldiers down here?!" Modeus questioned.
"How in the heck did they find us?!" Happy questioned as well.
Carla meanwhile had a look of complete and utter shock on her face, something Dante noticed.
"So these are the magic users from Earthland?" A female voice spoke out, the group looked in shock at the person who walked out of the shadows.
"Erza!" Lucy exclaimed.
"No, it's the Evil Erza from Edolas!" Natsu stated with a growl.
"Erza Knightwalker." Modeus said.
Happy and Carla could only look in fear. The Edolas Erza looked towards the white-haired swordsman.
"While many of these individuals bear such a resemblance to the fugitives here, I don't believe I've seen your face before." Knightwalker observed.
"The name's Dante!" He pointed both his pistols to her. "How about you let my friends go before I turn you into Swiss-cheese, bitch?"
Knightwalker looked with a glare. "I find your defiance to be annoying 'Dante', and even more surprising, that you have the gall to challenge a Royal Army Division Captain such as myself."
"Lady, I know Erza." Dante began. "I fought with Erza, I sparred with Erza. You are no Erza. You're just a cheap knock-off, and if there's one thing I hate its imitations."
Knightwalker's glare further intensified. "You must have quite the death-wish."
"Bring it on, bitch. I'll take you on right here and now." Dante challenged.
"That makes two of us!" Natsu agreed. "If I can handle Erza back in Earthland, I can take a cheap poser like you!" He challenged to Knightwalker.
"If you threaten our friends, you will face all our might." Modeus challenged as well as the three of them faced Knightwalker, who could only glare at their defiance.
This was interrupted by a dark chuckle as a certain individual stepped out behind Knightwalker. "As entertaining as that would be, I'm afraid you'll have to pass, for your friends' sakes."
Dante, Natsu, and Modeus glared while Happy, Carla, Lucy, Wendy, and Lisanna could only look on in absolute horror at the sight of Nelo Angelo.
"You." Dante growled.
"Yes, me." Nelo Angelo greeted with a smirk.
"Nelo... Angelo..." Wendy uttered, completely terrified.
"Give us a reason we shouldn't pound you both into a pulp!" Natsu exclaimed.
"I can give you two reasons." Nelo Angelo began. "The first, is while you each possess impressive skills, you still lack all your power, where as I am not." Nelo Angelo took out his massive sword and showed the dark lighting emanating from it to prove his point.
"Second." The Black Angel continued. "Even if you did have all your powers, you wouldn't use it, for fear of your female friends right here." Angelo brought his blade close to the bound Lucy, Lisanna, and Wendy who shuddered in terror while Natsu, Dante, and Modeus growled. "If you value there lives, put down there weapons."
Dante and Natsu glared even further, but Modeus sighed. The two looked to him, who gave a regretful nod. Both the Son of Sparda and the Son of Igneel sighed as they dropped all there weapons. Rebellion, Ebony, Ivory, Nevan, Agni, and Rudra all feel to the ground.
"Take them away." Knightwalker ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" The guards responded as they pulled away the tied up girls, while Natsu, Dante, and Modeus we're being led away by several guards pointing there spears at them.
"Erza! Please listen to us! Wait!" Lucy tried.
Dante passed by Nelo Angelo and the two made a glaring eye contact.
"Wendy!" Carla exclaimed as she ran forward.
"Natsu! Lisanna! Lucy! Dante!" Happy called as well.
The two cats tried to run forward to help there friends, but they didn't get to far as both Erza Knightwalker and Nelo Angelo stepped in front of there paths, causing both cats to look up in terror. However, no one was prepared for what happened next.
"Thank you." Modeus told the cats; much to all the heroes' shock.
"Great Exceeds." Knightwalker began as she kneeled down in front of them, along with all the Royal Guards. "I'm honored to welcome you home."
Even Nelo Angelo performed a slight bow. "Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, my little friends. We are in your debt."
Natsu, Lucy, Lisanna, Dante, Wendy, and Modeus could only look with shocked expressions.
"What…?" Natsu breathed.
"I don't understand." Lucy breathed as well. "What's going on?"
"What is this…?" Modeus questioned.
"Who are you Happy and Carla?" The shocked and terrified Wendy questioned. "I though that you we're our friends."
Lisanna could only mutter as she looked in horror at this, with her mouth still covered.
Dante's look of shock turned into a hateful glare as he set his eyes on the white cat that he blamed for all of this.
Nelo Angelo walked forward to Happy and Carla. "In the name of the King of Edolas, we thank you, mighty Exceeds." He kneeled down in front of them, and faced them. "And Master Mundus also thanks you for your contributions." He whispered with a sinister grin to them.
Happy couldn't find anything to say at this, he turned towards Carla who shook like a kitten, not believing any of this could be happening.
Done.
Cliffhanger! Again, sorry this took so long. I hope you like this chapter. Expect some major fights to occur later on in this story. And, as you might have guessed, Nelo Angelo has his own plan in mind that the Edolas Kingdom doesn't know about. What is it? Will our heroes be able to stop there enemies? Find out next time on Fairy May Cry.